What began as a lively night of music and celebration ended in devastation when the roof of a Dominican Republic nightclub — the iconic Jet Set in Santo Domingo — collapsed early Tuesday morning, killing at least 124 people, including two former Major League Baseball players and a prominent government official. The tragedy occurred during a packed merengue concert by beloved singer Rubby Pérez.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
Shocking Collapse at Dominican Republic Nightclub Leaves Nation in Mourning
Videos circulating on social media and confirmed by local media show lights flickering and dust falling from the ceiling moments before the roof caved in, engulfing concertgoers in concrete and chaos.
“There was no time to run,” said Enrique Paulino, Pérez’s manager. “We all thought it was an earthquake.”
President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning, while rescue crews — including international teams from Puerto Rico and Israel — continue searching for survivors. So far, at least 145 people have been rescued alive. Over 250 are injured. The death toll is expected to rise.
Victims include national heroes
The calamity claimed the lives of several prominent figures:
Rubby Pérez, the celebrated merengue artist, was performing on stage when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub gave way. Known for his powerful voice and decades-long career, Pérez’s presence had drawn a large crowd that night. His body was recovered from the rubble on Wednesday morning, marking a heartbreaking end to a national musical icon.
Among the dead was former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel. Known for his record-setting career with 13 MLB teams over 15 years, Dotel’s death has sent shockwaves through the sports world. He was reportedly rescued alive but died on the way to the hospital, according to officials.
Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, another former MLB player, also lost his life in the collapse. Blanco was widely respected in the Dominican baseball community, and news of his death has left fans, teammates, and league officials reeling.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims as well. In a tragic twist, she managed to call President Luis Abinader from beneath the rubble to alert him to the disaster before succumbing to her injuries. Her call helped mobilize the early response to the scene.
Martín Polanco, a fashion designer based in New York and a beloved figure in Dominican-American cultural circles, also perished in the collapse. His loss has been felt deeply by the creative community both in the Dominican Republic and abroad.
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Desperate families, fading hope
Outside Santo Domingo’s forensic institute, anguished families waited for news of their missing loved ones. Officials have yet to identify 33 of the recovered bodies.
“I haven’t heard from my nephew, his wife, or my cousin,” said Wilson Casado, whose relatives were at the club. “We just want to know if they’re in a hospital — or worse.”
Over 150 ambulance transfers have been made, many carrying multiple patients at a time, authorities said.
Jet Set: A cultural landmark destroyed
Founded in 1973, the Jet Set nightclub was a staple of the Dominican nightlife scene, known for its Monday-night live shows that featured legends of merengue and salsa. It was last renovated in 2015.
The club had survived a 2023 fire caused by a lightning strike, raising questions about whether structural vulnerabilities may have been overlooked.
“There are no words to express the pain this event has caused,” the venue said in a statement. “We are heartbroken. We stand with the victims’ families.”
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Global response and remembrance
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that at least one U.S. citizen and several residents were among the dead.
“The U.S. stands ready to support our Dominican allies,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Jeanette and I are united in prayer as the people of the Dominican Republic grieve the recent tragedy that took place in Jet Set night club in Santo Domingo, which also resulted in the unfortunate death of at least one U.S. citizen and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents, while rescue…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 9, 2025
Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer, said members of his family were in the club.
“We’re all affected by the tragedy,” he said through tears in a video posted online.
Their status remains unknown.
Musicians like Juan Luis Guerra, Daddy Yankee, and Marc Anthony have posted messages of support, mourning the loss of Pérez and so many others.
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What’s next?
As cranes lift debris and rescue dogs sniff through ruins, the Dominican Republic braces for more heartbreak. Investigators are now turning their attention to the building’s permits and recent inspections.
“We continue clearing debris and searching for people,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center. “We will not rest until every person is accounted for.”