A catastrophic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic’s capital has claimed at least 97 lives, with more than 155 others injured, in one of the deadliest structural disasters in the country’s history.

According to Reuters, the tragedy occurred during a packed concert headlined by beloved merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was among those killed. The event, held on Tuesday night, drew a large crowd of prominent figures, including politicians, athletes, and celebrities.

Rescue teams worked into the night, using heavy machinery to sift through debris as anguished families gathered nearby, hoping for news of missing loved ones.

“I still have family members that are in the rubble, and we don’t know what happened to them,” said Pedro Martinez, the Hall of Fame MLB pitcher, in a video shared on Instagram. “Please pray for us.”

Rescue workers transport a victim rescued at the site of the collapsed Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Erika Santelices

High-Profile Victims Among the Dead

Authorities confirmed the deaths of several well-known public figures:

  • Rubby Perez, the merengue singer performing at the time of the collapse
  • Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz
  • Octavio Dotel, former Major League Baseball pitcher, who died en route to the hospital
  • Tony Blanco, former MLB player, also killed in the collapse

Dotel, 51, was a veteran of more than a dozen MLB teams and made his debut with the New York Mets in 1999. His passing prompted an outpouring of condolences from the baseball world.

“Thinking about our people in the Dominican Republic,” said Carlos Mendoza, manager of the New York Mets, at a press conference following the news.

Relatives of victims react at the site of the collapsed Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Erika Santelices

Search and Rescue Ongoing

Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the country’s emergency operations center, said the exact number of people inside the club at the time of the incident is still unclear. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.

Presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa stated that “more heavy equipment has been deployed to accelerate the removal of debris and assist ongoing search efforts.”

Family members are being provided psychological support as emergency services and volunteers continue to search for survivors.

Cause Still Unknown

The cause of the roof collapse remains under investigation. Engineers and forensic experts are examining whether the structure failed due to age, overcapacity, or other structural issues.

President Luis Abinader expressed his condolences and vowed full transparency in the investigation, calling it “a day of profound sorrow for the Dominican Republic.”

The government is expected to declare a national day of mourning as families begin to plan funerals and communities across the country grapple with the devastating loss.