What was meant to be a joyous night of dance and music ended in heartbreak when the roof of a popular Santo Domingo nightclub caved in early Tuesday, killing at least 98 people during a performance by celebrated singer Rubby Perez.
Emergency responders raced against time for more than 24 hours, digging through layers of debris in hopes of finding survivors.
But by early Wednesday, officials indicated their mission had become largely a recovery operation.
The iconic Jet Set nightclub was packed beyond capacity when the tragedy struck around 12:44 a.m. Local reports say between 500 to 1,000 people were inside.
Witnesses described a brief blackout followed by the sudden collapse of the ceiling.
Among the confirmed fatalities was Perez himself, whose daughter survived the ordeal. His manager, Enrique Paulino, told AFP that funeral plans are pending family discussions.
Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, known for his World Series win with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, also perished. Although pulled from the rubble alive, he later died from his injuries in transit to the hospital.
His death prompted an outpouring of tributes, including a moment of honour at Citi Field in New York.
President Luis Abinader ordered three days of national mourning and personally visited the disaster site. He also confirmed the death of Nelsy Cruz, a regional government official, in the collapse.
Grieving families stood outside hospitals and the club, desperate for news.
“They’re not telling us anything,” one woman, Regina del Rosa, told local media, expressing frustration over the lack of communication.
Eyewitness Iris Pena recalled escaping with her son as debris began falling onto their table. “It felt like an earthquake or a tsunami,” she said.
A crane has been deployed to lift heavy rubble as rescue workers continue their search.
Meanwhile, the government has called on citizens to donate blood to aid the injured.
Jet Set nightclub, a mainstay in the city’s vibrant music scene, issued a statement vowing full cooperation with the authorities.
The venue has been hosting weekly shows for over five decades and remains a key symbol of Dominican cultural life.
Tourism, a cornerstone of the national economy, faces new scrutiny as questions swirl around safety standards in popular venues.