Using heavy machinery, drones, technical equipment, and dozens of rescuers, authorities continued search and rescue efforts on Tuesday following the deadly collapse of a nightclub roof in the Dominican Republic—a tragic incident that has left at least 44 people dead, according to official figures.
The collapse occurred at night during a concert at the popular Jet Set nightclub, located in the capital, Santo Domingo. According to emergency management officials, people were still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
In a series of social media posts, rescue teams reported making at least 134 trips to and from the disaster site. The scale of the tragedy was so great that, in the initial hours, ambulances could only transport two or three injured people at a time. Over 130 people were hurt, said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, in a video shared by the National Police on Instagram.
“We’re still rescuing people alive,” Méndez said. “Voices can still be heard.”
Rescue teams continued pulling victims—both alive and deceased—from the debris. Méndez noted that some trapped individuals were able to call their relatives from inside the nightclub. He also reiterated that the search would not stop until all missing persons were found.
Jet Set, with more than 45 years of history, is one of the most iconic nightclubs in the Dominican Republic, especially known for its Monday night shows—a staple of live music in Santo Domingo.
Outside the venue, dozens of anxious relatives gathered, desperate for news about their loved ones. Some said they were searching for up to seven missing family members. Several Dominican congressional members were believed to have been inside the club at the time of the collapse, prompting lawmakers to rush to the scene.
The nightclub had announced on Instagram that merengue singer Rubby Pérez was scheduled to perform on Monday night. Videos shared on social media—and verified by The New York Times—show Pérez on stage performing when the camera begins to shake and screams erupt. At that moment, a large chandelier crashes down from the ceiling.
Another video, filmed after the collapse and also verified by the Times, reveals the extent of the destruction: much of the structure had caved in, with debris covering the stage and dance floor as rescue teams searched through the wreckage.
At a press conference, authorities said they were still trying to confirm Pérez’s condition and could not yet specify how many people had been inside the venue when the tragedy struck.
Among those present at the nightclub was Nelsy Cruz, governor of the Dominican province of Monte Cristi, located in the northwest near the Haitian border. According to First Lady Raquel P. Arbaje, Cruz managed to call President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m. while she was trapped under the rubble. She later died at a hospital, the president confirmed on Tuesday morning from the scene of the collapse.
