Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
Dominican Republic Nightclub Tragedy: Merengue Icon and Baseball Star Among Victims as Death Toll Climbs
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic mourned as funerals were held Thursday for victims of the nightclub roof collapse at Santo Domingo’s popular Jet Set venue, including a celebrated merengue singer and a former baseball star. Authorities have concluded search operations, confirming a final death toll of 221 in the tragic incident.
Mourning for Merengue Icon Rubby Pérez
Santo Domingo’s National Theater became a site of collective grief as throngs of mourners, dressed in black and white, gathered to pay respects to the beloved singer Rubby Pérez. Pérez, who was performing at the crowded Jet Set nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday when the ceiling gave way, lay in repose within a closed coffin.
President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje were present at the theater, standing in solemn tribute beside Pérez’s coffin for several minutes. Emotional scenes unfolded as mourners openly wept, some overcome with grief, while a recording of Pérez singing the national anthem filled the hall. Renowned Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra was among the prominent figures who attended the memorial service.
Pérez, aged 69, transitioned to a successful music career after a car accident ended his aspirations to become a professional baseball player. He achieved fame with popular songs such as “Volveré,” performed with Wilfrido Vargas’s orchestra, and “Buscando tus besos” as a solo artist.
Following a five-hour memorial service, mourners released numerous white balloons outside the theater and spontaneously sang “Volveré” in unison, a poignant farewell to the music legend. One woman was visibly moved, clutching her heart and shedding tears.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
At the cemetery, Zulinka Pérez, one of his daughters, expressed the overwhelming outpouring of public affection, stating, “I knew he was loved, but I never imagined this.”
Search and Rescue Operations Conclude, Investigation Begins
In close proximity to Pérez’s memorial, at the site of the former Jet Set club, heavy machinery began to withdraw, signaling the end of rescue efforts. Emergency crews packed up their equipment, marking the shift from rescue to investigation. A team of prosecutors arrived at the scene to commence inquiries into the incident.
Uncertainty Surrounds Cause of Collapse
The cause of the roof collapse remains undetermined, and details regarding the last building inspection are still pending. The government has pledged a comprehensive investigation into the disaster, and the nightclub owners have stated their full cooperation with the authorities.
Official’s Emotional Response
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, was overcome with emotion while addressing reporters. Visibly distraught, he managed to convey his gratitude, stating, “Thank you, God, because today we accomplished the most difficult task I’ve had in 20 years,” before stepping away from the microphone in tears. Other officials offered support, patting him on the back as he apologized, “Please forgive me,” before passing the microphone to a military official.
Casualties and Injuries from Nightclub tragedy
Officials reported that 189 individuals were rescued alive from the wreckage. Over 200 people sustained injuries, with 23 remaining hospitalized, including eight listed in critical condition.
Severity of Injuries
Health Minister Víctor Atallah emphasized the critical nature of some injuries, stating, “If the trauma is too great, there’s not a lot of time” to save those in critical condition. Medical professionals indicated that injuries included severe fractures to the skull, femur, and pelvis.
Families Await News, Grapple with Grief
Many families have been anxiously awaiting updates on their loved ones, expressing frustration with the limited information flow from hospitals and the national forensic institute.
Identification of Victims Underway
Authorities confirmed that at least 146 bodies had been identified as of Thursday.
Desperate Search for Loved Ones
María Luisa Taveras shared her agonizing search for her sister with TV station Noticias SIN, stating, “We have gone everywhere they have told us,” her voice breaking with emotion.
Taveras explained that her family had deployed members to various hospitals and the National Institute of Forensic Pathology in a desperate effort to locate her sister. Dozens of people gathered at the institute on Thursday, wearing face masks and expressing distress over the overwhelming odor while demanding the release of their family members’ bodies.
“The odor is unbearable,” Wendy Sosa, who had been waiting since Wednesday morning for the body of her 61-year-old cousin, Nilka Curiel González, told The Associated Press by phone. Sosa described the situation as “chaotic,” and noted that officials had established a refrigerated container to manage the large number of bodies.
She tearfully remembered her cousin as kind, genuine, and “very empathetic.”
Notable Figures Among the Deceased
Among the identified victims are former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, as well as Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province, whose brother is seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz.
Tributes to Octavio Dotel
Octavio Dotel was laid to rest Thursday in Santo Domingo. His wake on Wednesday was attended by hundreds, including Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz. Ortiz commented on the large turnout, saying it “spoke volumes” about Dotel’s character.
“He was a person whom everyone loved,” Ortiz told reporters, reflecting the profound sense of loss. “It’s very hard, very hard, truly.”
MLB Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez also attended a wake on Thursday, expressing the collective grief.
“There are no words to describe the pain we are all feeling,” Martínez stated, adding that he personally knew more than 50 of the deceased. “Life is but a breath.”
Other Victims Represent Diverse Backgrounds
The tragedy claimed lives from diverse backgrounds, including a retired United Nations official; saxophonist Luis Solís, who was performing onstage when the roof collapsed; New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco; relatives of government ministers; and employees of Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.
Hometown Mourns Collective Loss
Over 20 victims hailed from Haina, Rubby Pérez’s hometown, located southwest of Santo Domingo.
The governor organized a communal wake, setting up 10 stands for coffins under a banner that poignantly read: “Haina bids farewell to her beloved children with immense sorrow.”
Family Devastation
Among the mourners was Juancho Guillén, who had recently lost his wife three months prior and tragically lost his brother, sister, and brother-in-law in the Jet Set nightclub collapse.
“This family is in shock, is devastated,” he expressed to Noticias SIN. “We’re practically dead too.”