Roof Collapse at Dominican Nightclub... Death Toll Rises to at Least 98

Governor and Former Major League Players Among the Dead
500 to 1,000 People Present at the Time... Casualties May Rise Further

In the early hours of the 8th (local time), the death toll from the nightclub roof collapse accident in the Dominican Republic rose to over 98. At the time of the accident, hundreds of spectators had gathered at the club where a famous singer was performing, and the scale of the damage is expected to increase.

On the 8th (local time), the roof of a nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, collapsed. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

According to the Associated Press and other sources, the roof suddenly collapsed at the JetSet club in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, in the early morning. Local authorities reported that at least 98 people have died and 160 were injured so far. Search operations for those buried under the debris have been ongoing for more than 12 hours, but the number of casualties may increase.

At the time of the accident, the club was hosting a performance by Rubi Perez, a merengue (a type of music originating from the Dominican Republic) singer, and authorities estimate that between 500 and 1,000 people were inside. The structure collapsed instantly, preventing many from escaping in time, which led to a large number of casualties.

The victims included notable figures. Nelsi Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi Province, was also confirmed dead in the accident. She was the sister of Nelson Cruz, who once played alongside Kim Ha-seong, Lee Dae-ho, and Choi Ji-man in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. Nelson Cruz posted a tribute on his social media.

Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel was critically injured and treated in hospital but eventually passed away, and Tony Blanco, a batter who mainly played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, was also listed among the deceased.

Singer Perez, who was performing at the time, is still reported missing. Perez’s manager told the AP that "the performance started around midnight, and the accident occurred about an hour later."

Rescue workers are continuing efforts to lift broken concrete debris and rescue those buried and missing at the scene. Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the accident response headquarters (COE), said, "We are continuously clearing debris and searching for people," adding, "We will do our best in the rescue operations."

The cause of the accident is not yet known. The building where the accident occurred was completed in 1973 and has undergone several remodelings since then, according to the local daily Listin Diario.

Additionally, the JetSet nightclub is known locally as an "entertainment sanctuary," hosting the 'Lunes Bailable' party almost every Monday, where domestic and international artists and celebrities gather. The club issued a statement saying, "This accident is shocking to everyone," and that they are cooperating with authorities regarding the accident response.

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader expressed deep regret over the tragedy on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "I express my deepest condolences regarding the tragedy at the nightclub," and added, "We are monitoring the situation closely every moment since the incident."