The death toll from the collapse of a nightclub roof in the Dominican Republic's capital of Santo Domingo has risen to at least 98, local authorities said.
Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, said at least 160 people were injured as rescuers searched for possible survivors in the rubble of the one-story Jet Set club.
“We continue to clear the rubble and search for people,” he said late Tuesday. “We will be persistent in our search for people.”
Almost 12 hours after the roof collapsed during a merengue concert, rescuers were still pulling survivors from the rubble. Firefighters were removing blocks of broken concrete and using sawn pieces of wood as supports to lift the heavy debris, while the sound of drills drilling through concrete filled the air.
Mendez said rescuers were focusing on three areas of the club, adding: “We are hearing some sounds.”
Among the dead was Nelsy Cruz, governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and the sister of seven-time Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Nelson Cruz.
She called President Luis Abinader at 12:49 p.m. to say she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, First Lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials later said she died in hospital.
“This is a terrible tragedy,” the first lady said, her voice shaking.
The Dominican Republic's professional baseball league announced on X that former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, 51, was also killed. He was pulled from the wreckage and taken to a hospital earlier.
MLB reported to X that former Washington Nationals player Tony Blanco, the father of Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguer Tony Blanco Jr., was also a victim.
Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera also died, league spokesman Satosky Terrero said.
Among the victims was national politician Bray Vargas.
Relatives of merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, initially said he had been rescued, but Mendez said rescuers were still looking for him.
The singer's manager Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was stained with blood, told reporters at the venue that the concert started shortly before midnight and that almost an hour later the roof collapsed, killing the band's saxophonist.
“It happened so fast. I managed to hide in a corner,” he said, adding,
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
