A night of music turned tragic when the roof of Santo Domingo’s iconic Jet Set nightclub collapsed early Tuesday morning, killing at least 98 people and injuring over 150, officials said.
The popular venue, hosting a lively merengue concert by Rubby Pérez, was packed with guests — including politicians, athletes, and celebrities — when the collapse occurred just before 1 a.m. Pérez was among those killed.
Former MLB stars Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco also died. Dotel, 51, was pulled from the rubble but later died in the hospital. He had a standout MLB career, playing for 13 teams and winning a World Series with the Cardinals in 2011.
Another victim was Nelsy Cruz, Montecristi governor and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz. She called the president moments before her death, reporting she was trapped.
Rescue teams worked through the day, pulling survivors from the rubble as late as 12 hours after the collapse. Authorities said they continued to hear sounds from beneath the debris.
Video from the concert shows people dancing before a sudden crash cuts the footage. One clip captures someone pointing to the ceiling moments before it gave way.
Rubby Pérez’s bandmate said the venue was packed and the collapse felt like an earthquake. His group’s saxophonist also died in the incident.