More than 100 people are now confirmed to have died when the roof of the Jet Set night club in Dominican Republic capital Santo Domingo collapsed during a performance by popular merengue artist Rubby Pérez in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Pérez is among those who died, according to his family.
Officials have now said that at least 113 people are known to have died as a result of the roof collapse, with a further 155 people currently in hospital.
It’s not entirely clear how many people were in attendance during Pérez’s performance at the Jet Set venue, which has a capacity of 1700. While some reports say around 300 people were present, others have claimed there could have been as many as a 1000 people at the late night show.
One video circulating online recorded just before the incident shows an attendee pointing upwards and stating that he saw something fall. Moments later the ceiling begins to collapse and the video goes black.
According to The Guardian, one audience member told SIN television, “At one point, dirt started falling like dust into the drink on the table. A stone fell and cracked the table where we were and we got out. The impact was so strong, as if it had been a tsunami or an earthquake".
Pérez was performing with his band at the time of the tragedy. His daughter Zulinka, who was also in attendance, told reporters that, although she managed to escape after the roof collapsed, her father did not. The musician’s manager, Enrique Paulino, also confirmed to local media that Pérez, as well as his band’s saxophonist, were among those who died.
Other artists have paid tribute to Pérez on social media in the last 24 hours, with Wilfrido Vargas writing “the friend and idol of our genre has left us”, while Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón wrote, “Maestro, what a great pain he leaves us”.
While the priority so far has obviously been the search for survivors in the collapsed building, the authorities will now turn their attention to what caused the tragedy. In a statement, the club’s management said they were working “fully and transparently” with the authorities.
The President of the Caribbean country, Luis Abinader, has declared three days of mourning following the disaster. In a statement on social media he said, “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. All rescue agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families”.