At least 124 people have died in the collapse of the roof of the nightclub in the Dominican Republic, with improvised morgues established outside the disaster area while rescue teams are looking for survivors, who warned that the officials warned were left without time on Wednesday.
The dead include two former major league baseball players, including the World Series Octavio Dotel champion, the popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez and a series of outstanding local politicians and business leaders.
With many people not yet accounted for after the nightmare on Tuesday night, rescue teams are still working hard digging in the debris, and officials try to maintain order while horrified family members desperately expect Hope and Sarch.
It was not clear immediately what caused the roof to collapse, with Jet Set working with officials to investigate the incident.
“The loss of human life leaves us in a state of deep complaint and dismay,” said the nightclub in a statement. “We are cooperating completely and transparently with the relevant authorities to help the victims and clarify what happened.”
Where are rescue efforts?
The Nation Emergency Operations Center (EOC) leads the answer in Santo Domingo, with officials bringing 12 rescue teams from Puerto Rico, and nine from Israel to help with search and rescue efforts.
The EOC chief, Juan Manuel Méndez, estimated on Wednesday that the teams have “24 to 36 hours” to try to find the reminiscent survivors.
“We assume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until a single person remains under those rubble,” Méndez said.
How many people have dead and injured?
Eleven More bodies were removed from the debris of the Jet Set Night Club in Santo Domingo on Wednesday morning, with the number of wounded that reach 155, according to the National Police of the Dominican Republic.
So far, only 91 of Dead have been identified, with the Emergency Operations Center and the Nation’s Ministry of Health working 24 hours to identify the dead within the improvised morgo built near the destroyed nightclub, reported news Sin.
The National Institute of Forensic Pathology has begun to project images of victims who have been removed from the destroyed nightclub so that their loved ones can help identify them.
The authorities warned that the death toll will almost surely increase as the work continues.
Celebrity deaths
A handful of national and international celebrities mixed and partying at the nightclub when the roof collapsed and killed them.
Among the big names was Dotel, 51, who entered the MLB as a prospect of the Mets in 1999 and also played for the Yankees in 2006. He found great success as part of the Cardinals of San Luis 2011, who claimed the victory of the World Series against the Texas.
The renowned Merengue singer, Rubby Pérez, 69, who recently touched several shows in New York City, was also killed in the catastrophe, according to his family and manager.
Pérez was acting at the nightclub and working in the crowd when the rubble began to fall from the roof, with all the roof collapse only a few seconds later, the witnesses told news Sin.
Also murdered was Tony Blanco, 45, who played for Washington nationals, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi and sister of the former toleter of MLB Nelson Cruz.
Martin Polanco, a fashion designer based in New York who designed for Papa Yankee and the News News team, was also identified as one of the victims.
History of the Jet Set Club
The iconic nightclub in Santo Domingo debuted in 1973 as an access point that had popular local and international meringue artists.
Famous for its list of “Jet Set Monday” scenarios, the club and the restaurant became the most popular place of their son in the Dominican Republic, according to the newspapers Listín Diario.
The iconic club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015. In 2023, a fire broke out in the club when it was reached by lightning.
With publication cables
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