Death toll rises to 98 in Dominican nightclub roof collapse

Among the victims of the Dominican Republic nightclub collapse were former baseball players.

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A devastating roof collapse at a popular nightclub in the capital, Santo Domingo, has left at least 98 dead and more than 150 injured, officials have confirmed.

The tragedy struck in the early hours of Tuesday during a concert by famed merengue singer Rubby Pérez at the Jet Set nightclub.

The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m., caused panic as the roof collapsed while hundreds of people were inside the venue.

Among those confirmed dead were former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, 51, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province. Dotel was pulled from the debris but died on the way to the hospital. Cruz, the sister of former baseball star Nelson Cruz, was also among the victims.

Rescue workers have been working to search for survivors, with around 400 responders on-site.

Video footage from inside the club shows people dancing and sitting at tables just before the collapse. In one recording, a man can be heard saying, “something fell from the ceiling,” followed by a loud crash and screams of panic as the roof gave way.

Local authorities are hopeful that more survivors may be found under the rubble, but fears remain that the death toll will continue to rise as the search continues.

"I thought it was an earthquake," one of Rubby Pérez’s band members said, recalling the moment of collapse.

The nightclub, a popular venue for dance music concerts, was packed with both locals and notable figures, including politicians and athletes.

In a heartbreaking statement, President Luis Abinader expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, describing the event as a national tragedy. He promised continued efforts in the rescue operations.

As the investigation into the cause of the collapse begins, authorities are focusing on determining whether any structural issues contributed to the disaster.

The collapse has sent shockwaves across the country, with many remembering Dotel, who was a beloved figure in the Dominican Republic.