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Scores Dead in Dominican Republic Nightclub Tragedy
A devastating nightclub collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has claimed the lives of at least 184 individuals, plunging the nation into mourning. The incident occurred at the Jet Set nightclub during a performance by popular Dominican singer Rubby Pérez, trapping numerous patrons under the debris. Among those feared lost are Maximo Peña, a regular attendee of the Monday night events for three decades, along with his wife and sister, turning what was meant to be an evening of entertainment into an unspeakable catastrophe.
Long-time Patron and Family Feared Dead
Shailyn Peña, Maximo’s 17-year-old daughter, anxiously awaits news of her father, stepmother, and aunt outside the remnants of the devastated venue. “I haven’t received any updates about them,” she stated, her voice heavy with concern. “It was just a typical Monday night outing for them. My father had invited my mother as well, but she fortunately decided against going at the last moment. It was truly a fortunate escape for her.”
Intense Rescue Operation Underway
Behind Shailyn, rescue personnel diligently sift through the wreckage, straining to detect any indication of life beneath the shattered remains of the building. International assistance has arrived, with search teams from Israel and Mexico joining local efforts, employing advanced thermal imaging technology in a desperate attempt to locate any remaining survivors.
Shailyn reveals her cousin is actively involved in the rescue efforts, searching through the rubble for her uncle. This provides a small measure of solace, knowing a family member is on the scene doing everything possible to find him.
However, the prolonged uncertainty and the agonizing wait for information are taking a heavy toll. “I feel an overwhelming desire to rush in and manually remove the debris to free him,” Shailyn confessed. “But despite this urge, I am helpless. All I can do is remain here and endure the wait.”
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Authorities Provide Grim Updates
Officials are striving to keep the public informed, regularly announcing somber updates on the escalating death toll. Periodically, teams emerge from the disaster site carrying bodies concealed under blankets on stretchers.
Intermittently, and with decreasing frequency, individuals are extracted alive, offering fleeting glimmers of hope to anxious relatives. Emergency responders maintain that survivor recoveries are still possible within the debris field.
“No possibility can be dismissed,” stated Juan Manuel Mendez, Director of the Emergency Operations Centre. “We are committed to meticulously examining every section of the wreckage to provide families affected by this tragedy with some resolution.”
National Mourning Declared
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has proclaimed three days of national mourning, reflecting the profound impact of the unfolding catastrophe.
Prominent Figures Among the Victims
Confirmed fatalities include well-known public figures such as singer Rubby Pérez himself, beloved former baseball stars Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, and a regional governor. Alongside these notables, numerous merengue music enthusiasts and fans of Pérez perished in the nightclub roof collapse.
Investigation into Collapse Cause to Follow Rescue
While the immediate priority remains search and rescue, attention will eventually shift to determining the cause of the structural failure. Government investigators will face the daunting task of providing answers to grieving families.
A prevailing theory attributes the disaster to a fire at the nightclub approximately two years prior. Concerns are mounting that the fire may have compromised the building’s structural integrity, or that subsequent repairs were inadequate or failed to meet safety regulations.
Nightclub Owner Expresses Condolences
Antonio Espaillat, owner of the Jet Set nightclub, conveyed his condolences and those of “the entire Jet Set family” to the bereaved relatives in a video message shared on social media.
He asserted his and his team’s “complete and transparent cooperation with authorities” in the ongoing investigation of the disaster.
Personal Tragedy Compounded
Shailyn Peña, aware of the earlier fire at the nightclub, also suspects it contributed to the collapse. However, her immediate concerns are more pressing. Despite efforts to shield them, her younger stepsisters learned of their parents’ entrapment from classmates, adding to the family’s distress.
They are “incredibly frightened,” she shared.
Birthday Marked by Grief
Thursday marks Shailyn’s birthday, a day typically celebrated with her father, stepmother, and aunt. Instead, she faces this milestone consumed by anguish, awaiting news of her missing loved ones in the aftermath of her nation’s most devastating modern tragedy.