At least 13 people have been confirmed dead and more than 90 have been hospitalized following the catastrophic roof collapse of a popular nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Jet Set Club, a well-known nightlife hotspot in the city’s National District.
According to the Dominican Republic National Police, a total of 93 ambulance transfers were made to various local hospitals as emergency responders scrambled to treat those injured in the disaster. The full extent of the injuries and the number of people trapped under the debris remains unknown, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations at the site.
The cause of the structural failure remains under investigation. The roof collapsed during a live performance by acclaimed merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was on stage at the time of the incident, according to local media reports.
Juan Manuel Méndez, the Director of the country’s Emergency Management Operations, confirmed via a video statement on Instagram that authorities are continuing their search through the rubble, holding out hope that some victims may still be alive.
“We are still working, searching for people in the rubble. We presume that many of them are still alive, that’s why the authorities here with their teams will not stop until we find the last person in that rubble,” Méndez said.
Specialized teams, including firefighters, paramedics, and structural engineers, remain on-site as heavy machinery is used to carefully remove debris while minimizing further risks to potential survivors.
Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía de Garrigó expressed her condolences in a statement shared Tuesday morning on X (formerly Twitter), calling the incident a “terrible tragedy” for the city.
“Our city wakes up to a terrible tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. My deepest sympathy goes out to the families still waiting for news of their loved ones,” she said.
The mayor also confirmed that the National Disaster Response Committee had been activated and is coordinating relief and recovery efforts. City officials are working alongside national agencies to ensure those injured receive prompt medical care and that structural experts investigate the integrity of similar buildings in the area.
Jet Set Club has long been a staple in Santo Domingo’s nightlife scene, known for hosting live performances by some of the most iconic merengue and salsa artists in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. The collapse has shocked the entertainment community and raised questions about building safety and overcrowding in entertainment venues.
As authorities continue their investigation, safety officials have urged other nightclubs and public venues to review their structural integrity and emergency protocols.
