At least 98 people including famous singer Rubby Pérez have been confirmed dead with 150 others injured after a roof collapsed at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 12:44 am on 8 April 2025, during the merengue singer’s live performance when a section of the ceiling reportedly plunged at the Jet Set venue in Santo Domingo.
Footage shared on social media showed Pérez, who had two hits on Billboard chart lists, performing on stage when parts of the ceiling came crashing down on the dancing crowd and the performers.
Pérez’s daughter and band vocalist, Zulinka Pérez, informed reporters that the legendary artist was trapped under the rubble and that he was singing to attract the attention of rescue workers. Reports now indicate that the famous singer has lost his life.
The Emergency Operations Center reported that at least 121 people have been taken to local hospitals in the Dominican capital.
First responders are actively searching for survivors, reportedly using thermal cameras that detect body heat signatures.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, who was trapped under debris, has been rescued, according to local reporter Héctor Gómez.
Dotel, who won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, was reported to be screaming for help, according to Dominican television station Supercanal.
The network also reported that paramedics administered IVs to some clubgoers who remained trapped under the rubble while awaiting rescue.
Former major leaguers Esteban Germán and Henry Blanco were also present at the club, yet managed to escape safely.
The nation’s President, Luis Abinader, confirmed that those dead include Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the province of Montecristi, and the sister of another ex-Major League Baseball player, Nelson Cruz.
In a video, a male clubgoer pointed toward an area of the nightclub and noticed that something was wrong with the ceiling.
‘Oh, something fell from above, you see? Something fell from the ceiling,’ the guest said.
A woman, who appeared to be with the man filming the video, could be heard screaming, “Dad, what happened to you?”
In another video, many other guests were seen looking at a lighting structure attached to the ceiling just before the roof collapsed.
Zulinka revealed that she was standing next to her husband, who is also a band vocalist when he shielded her by throwing himself on top of her as the ceiling fell.
He urged her to leave first to ensure that their child would have someone to care for him in case he didn’t survive.
‘He told me, “Babe, get out so the child won’t be alone if this whole thing falls down. I crawled out”,’ Zulinka said.
Juan Manuel Mendez, the director of the Center of Emergency Operations, informed reporters that many of the individuals present at the nightclub, which has a capacity of 1,000 customers, may still be alive.
‘That is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,’ he said.
President Abinader visited the site and promised that the government would use all available resources to ensure the rescue of trapped victims affected by the nightclub collapse.
Raquel Arbaje initially informed reporters that Governor Cruz called President Abinader at 12:49 AM to report that she was trapped.
Music promoter Carlos Bautista, who survived the accidental collapse, reported that there were at least 800 guests at the weekly party held at Jet Set, a venue that first opened its doors in 1973 as a restaurant and nightclub.
