Rubby Pérez, one of many Dominican Republic’s most beloved merengue singers, was confirmed useless early Wednesday morning after being discovered beneath the rubble of the Jet Set nightclub, the place he had been performing when the roof collapsed on April 8.
Officers say the loss of life toll has risen to 113, with greater than 150 individuals injured.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the nation’s Emergency Operations Heart, confirmed Pérez’s loss of life throughout a press convention on April 9, in keeping with an NBC Information translation.
The collapse, which occurred throughout a packed reside present on the in style Santo Domingo venue, has additionally claimed the lives of different high-profile figures, together with Montecristi province governor Nelsy M. Cruz Martínez and former Main League Baseball gamers Tony Blanco and Octavio Dotel. In line with Méndez, at the very least 155 individuals have been transported to native hospitals.
Emergency crews have been nonetheless combing by means of the rubble on Wednesday morning in a continued effort to find survivors. Méndez emphasised that the search won’t cease “so long as there’s a member of the family who studies their family members lacking within the rubble.” He added that three areas of the membership had change into precedence zones after first responders reported listening to sounds from beneath the particles.
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In a tragic element shared by First Woman Raquel Arbaje, Governor Cruz had reportedly referred to as the president of the Dominican Republic from below the rubble. Her brother, former MLB star Nelson Cruz, confirmed her loss of life in a collection of Instagram posts later that night. “Her legacy of service and love for others will reside in our hearts endlessly,” he wrote.
The lack of former baseball gamers Blanco and Dotel additionally despatched shockwaves by means of the sports activities world. Main League Baseball groups, together with the New York Mets and the Houston Astros, paid tribute to the fallen athletes, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred launched a press release acknowledging the depth of the tragedy. “The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we’re pondering of all of the Dominican gamers and followers throughout the sport immediately,” he stated.
The reason for the collapse stays below investigation. The homeowners of Jet Set nightclub have said they’re cooperating totally with authorities “to help the victims and make clear what occurred,” in keeping with a translated assertion posted to Instagram. A hearth had damaged out on the venue in 2023 after lightning struck its energy plant, however on the time, the membership stated the constructing’s construction had not been compromised. It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not that fireside had any affect on the 2025 collapse, or when the constructing was final formally inspected.
Rubby Pérez, born Roberto Antonio Pérez Herrera in Haina in 1956, was a nationwide treasure. A automotive accident at 15 ended his dream of turning into a baseball participant, however led him to a legendary music profession as an alternative. Generally known as “the best voice of merengue,” he rose to fame with teams like Los Pitágoras del Ritmo and Fernando Villalona’s band, ultimately launching a solo profession that cemented his place in Latin music historical past. Simply weeks in the past, he acquired a standing ovation on the 2025 Soberano Awards in honor of his decades-long profession.
His passing has prompted widespread mourning throughout the Dominican Republic. Followers and fellow artists have celebrated his highly effective voice, resilience, and dedication to his craft—remembering a person who not solely sang about love and life, however lived each to the fullest.
