The owner of a nightclub of the Dominican Republic where 232 people died following a collapse of the roof earlier this month admitted that the building had been riddled with structural problems for more than a decade, and that the plaster was used several times to make repairs.
On Wednesday, during his first interview since the catastrophe of April 8, Antonio Espailt, director and owner of the nightclub by plane prey to the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, told the local Telesistème television station that plaster had been added to the roof a few hours before it continues.
According to the Associated Press, he noted that the plaster had fallen several times over the years, including when the water has filtered in the club’s air conditioning units. Espailt confirmed that no one has ever inspected roof or water filtration systems.
He told journalists that there were six air conditioning units on the roof, plus three water tanks, and that an electric generator was installed in an adjacent room, not on the roof.
Every six to eight years, a specialized team waterproofed the roof, with the last waterproofing made for about a month before the collapse, he explained.
“We have always bought plaster. Still, “he continued.
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Espailt first learned of the tragedy when his sister called him when he was trapped in the debris alongside hundreds of other people who attended a concert by Merengue musician, Rubby Pérez, who was one of the people killed.
He was in Las Vegas attended an agreement when he received the news.
“To the families of the victims, I mean I’m sorry. I’m really sorry,” said Espailt. “I am destroyed,” he continued, adding that if he had been able to prevent collapse, he would have done everything in his power.
“There was no warning, nothing. We were all surprised,” he said.
Espailt did not attend the premises during rescue efforts for the concerns for its safety while the angry crowds had gathered on the site.
A woman is fighting over with employees of the National Medico-Legal Institute concerning delays in information following a collapse of the roof at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo earlier this month.
Martin Bernetti / Getty Images
The club, founded 52 years ago by the mother of Espailt, Ana Grecia López, when he was only six years old, had become a pillar of the city’s nightlife and stayed in the same place for three decades before he collapsed this month with around 515 people inside, said the owner.
Friends and parents meet outside the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo on April 12, 2025, to pay tribute to the deceased victims when the roof of the building collapsed earlier this month.
Eddy Vittini / Getty Images
Within 53 hours of disaster, the rescue teams found 189 survivors. Dozens of others have been hospitalized.
The victims included seven doctors, a retired head of the United Nations, the former MLB Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the province of Montecristi and sister of seven baseball stars of the major league Nelson Cruz, reported the AP.
At least three proceedings were brought against the owners, the Dominican government and the mayor’s office of Santo Domingo.
The complainants request damages not specified to all and a criminal conviction for manslaughter against the owners.
Espailt said that he had barely slept in the weeks following the roof and that he was in contact with the families of his employees and certain victims.
“I’m going to face everything,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Since the disaster, questions have been raised on the safety of the buildings of Santo Domingo and the rest of the country. The Dominican government has created an expert working group dedicated to studying the cause of the incident.
There is currently no government agency dedicated to the inspection of private business buildings in the Dominican Republic, although President Luis Abinader announced last week that new legislation should change this.
– with files from the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, A Division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
