At least 58 people died and more than 150 were taken to hospitals for their injuries after the roof collapsed in a nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, the authorities said. The crews sought potential survivors in the rubble of the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the emergency operations center.
“We assume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until one person remains under these rubble,” he said.
He said the teams were still working to determine the total number of people on the scene at the time of the incident.
A specialized canine unit has been brought to help seek in critical areas that are difficult to reach, emergency officials said.
National Police of the Dominican Republic / X
It was not immediately clear which caused the roof collapse.
President Luis Abinader wrote on social networks that all rescue agencies “worked tirelessly” to help people affected.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred in the jet nightclub. We have been following the minute incident since it occurred,” he wrote.
Nelsy Cruz, governor of the northwest province of Montecristi and sister of the seven times more base in the major baseball league, Nelson Cruz, was among the victims. She had called the president abinad at 12:49 p.m. saying that she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, said First Lady Raquel Abraje. Officials said Cruz died later in the hospital.
“It’s too big tragedy,” said Abraje in a broken voice.
In a press release, Cruz’s family paid tribute to “his heritage of service and love for others”.
The retired launcher of the Major Baseball League, Octavio Dottel, also died during the collapse, confirmed the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic in a press release. Dotel played for more than a dozen teams during his career, including New York Mets and Yankees, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Dodgers, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers.
Francesco Spotorno / AFP / Getty 
Merengue singer Rubby Pérez performed when the roof collapsed, and his daughter said he was considered trapped, AFP news agency reported.
Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt has been splashed with blood, told journalists on the scene that the concert started shortly before midnight, the roof collapsing almost an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.
“It was suddenly. I thought it was an earthquake, so I threw myself on the ground and I covered my head,” he said.
“We tried to arrive in the region where Rubby was, but there was too much debris there,” he added.
Pérez’s daughter Zulinka later said that she confirmed that her father was “alive”, although injured and still trapped in debris.
Abinader arrived at the scene and has embarked on those looking for friends and family, some with tears flowing on their faces.
“We have faith in God that we will save even more living people,” he told journalists.
Erika Santelices / Reuters 
In a hospital where the wounded were taken, an official stood outside by reading the names of the survivors aloud as a crowd gathered around her and shouted the names of their loved ones.
Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert but did not return home, was one of those who were looking forward to the club known for his traditional parties held on Monday where renowned national and international artists occur.
“We only want to God,” said Olivo.
Massiel Cuevas, godmother of Darlenys Batista, 22 years old.
“I am waiting for her. She is in there, I know she is there,” said Cuevas, closes in her conviction that Batista would be withdrawn alive.
contributed to this report.
