A popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak after a packed concert ended in catastrophe.
A roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo left at least 27 people dead and over 150 injured during a concert early Tuesday morning. Hundreds were in attendance for a live performance by merengue singer Rubby Pérez when part of the ceiling caved in, trapping dozens beneath the rubble in one of the worst nightclub tragedies in the nation’s history.
The roof at Jet Set gave way around 12:44 a.m. during the event, triggering panic as a large section fell on the crowd. The venue, known for its Monday night dance music concerts, was filled with guests enjoying the live show when disaster struck.
Emergency officials confirmed that more than 150 individuals have been injured, and many others remain missing as the search for survivors continues.
While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, Pérez and at least 121 other concertgoers have been treated at area hospitals. First responders are working continuously to locate and assist anyone who may still be trapped under the debris.
Authorities deployed around 400 search and rescue workers to comb through the disaster. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), revealed that more than 100 ambulance trips had been made to hospitals across Santo Domingo.
Some of these trips carried multiple patients at once due to the overwhelming number of injuries. Méndez expressed cautious optimism that more survivors could still be found. Just weeks ago, a soccer star died while trying to save people during a nightclub fire.
Meanwhile, the Jet Set Club issued a public statement describing the event as a tragedy that has deeply affected not just the venue but all Dominicans.
“The loss of human lives leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay,” they wrote, adding that they are cooperating fully with local authorities and have appointed María Elena Núñez as their official spokesperson during the crisis.
“We share their pain as if it were our own, because we too are in mourning,” the club continued in its message of condolences and solidarity. Officials urge the public to avoid the area as recovery efforts continue and families await updates about their missing loved ones.