The Dominican Republic is reeling after the roof of the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed during a packed merengue concert on Tuesday night, killing 221 people and injuring hundreds more in one of the country’s deadliest peacetime disasters.
As rescue operations continue, officials are working around the clock to identify victims, while distraught families gather outside the city morgue, clinging to hope. Staff from the National Forensic Institute have been using a microphone to describe physical features of unidentified bodies to aid recognition.
“A little tattoo on the right wrist,” an official called out, while tearful relatives held up photographs of missing loved ones.
Among the deceased is Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 13 teams during his 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Dotel, 51, had returned to his homeland to attend the concert.
“All of us who played against him or had the chance to share a locker room know he was full of joy and light,” said former MLB player Miguel Batista. “His energy brought people together. This is a devastating loss.”
The collapse also claimed the life of Rubby Pérez, a beloved icon of Dominican merengue music, who was performing on stage when the tragedy struck.
On Thursday, thousands flooded the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo for a public tribute to Pérez. Fellow musicians, fans, and cultural leaders gathered to honor the man who helped define a generation of Dominican music.
“His voice was part of our national identity,” said one mourner at the tribute. “Losing Rubby on a night meant for celebration is heartbreaking.”
Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the structural failure. Initial reports suggest possible overcrowding and poor maintenance of the building may have contributed. An investigation is underway.
The Dominican government has declared a three-day national mourning period, and flags are flying at half-mast. Emergency services continue to search for any additional victims and survivors in the rubble, while hospitals across the city struggle to manage the influx of injured concertgoers.
This tragedy has not only robbed the Dominican Republic of two of its most cherished public figures but has also cast a shadow of grief across the nation.
