Dominican Nightclub Roof Collapse Death Toll Rises to 226

The death toll for the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic rose to 226 people over the weekend.

Officials said they were able to rescue 189 people alive from the rubble, while 200 more were injured. 14 still remain hospitalized, four of those in critical condition. The roof of the night club collapsed during a merengue concert on April 8 during a live performance by Rubby Pérez. Rubby Pérez was tragically killed in the accident, as was Octavio Dotel, a former MLB pitcher for the Chicago White Sox.

Friends and relatives waited for a forensics institute to return their loved ones’ bodies. Health minister Victor Attalah said there was a delay in identifying victims because the majority of them had to be matched using biometric data. Officials have said it is too soon to determine why the roof fell, though prosecutors investigated the scene on Thursday after rescue crews began packing up and removed heavy construction equipment used to move rubble.

Video footage from the night the roof collapsed show people leaving the venue as dust and rain began sprinkling the crowd. Survivor Iris Pena said she left the venue after dirt started falling into her drink and a stone fell and cracked the table she was sitting at. Another video shared online shows performer Rubby Pérez on-stage singing while someone comments about a slab having fallen from the roof.

Moments later, the roof collapses and the video devolves into darkness, crashing, and screams. The Jet Set nightclub building was 52 years old and was previously operated as a cinema. Standing two floors high, the club featured a spacious dance floor with huge disco balls, speakers, and light fixtures. The club was designed to host 700 people seated and 1,000 people on the floor.

There is some speculation that a previous fire in the building in 2023 may have weakened the concrete and steel support structure. Architect Garivalddy De Aza analyzed the photos of the roof collapse on Instagram and offered his opinion “when a structure like that is affected by a severe fire, the durability of the concrete deteriorates significantly and it “turns into a kind of weak concrete.” The owners of the night club say they are working fully with authorities who are investigating the disaster.