The dying toll from the collapse of a cement roof at a well-liked nightclub within the Dominican Republic surged to 221 on Thursday, as search crews continued to sift by rubble and the nation mourned the lack of certainly one of its most beloved merengue stars and dozens of others.
In Santo Domingo, mourners wearing black and white gathered on the Nationwide Theater to pay their respects to Dominican Republic singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing on the Jet Set membership when the ceiling caved in early Tuesday. His physique lay in a closed coffin as attendees wept throughout a recording of him singing the nationwide anthem.
President Luis Abinader and First Girl Raquel Arbaje stood silently at Pérez’s casket. Amongst these current was acclaimed Dominican artist Juan Luis Guerra, becoming a member of a whole bunch in honoring the music icon.
Simply blocks away, rescue crews pressed on with their seek for extra victims beneath the wreckage, though nobody has been discovered alive since Tuesday afternoon.
“We’ve virtually combed by floor zero,” mentioned Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Middle of Emergency Operations, who famous that just one small space remained to be cleared. Later that day, Méndez grew to become emotional whereas addressing the media.
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“Thanks, God, as a result of immediately we completed essentially the most troublesome activity I’ve had in 20 years,” he mentioned, stepping away from the microphone in tears. He was comforted by different officers earlier than handing the mic to a military consultant.
Up to now, 189 folks have been rescued alive, with greater than 200 injured. Twenty-four stay hospitalized, together with eight in essential situation.
“If the trauma is simply too nice, there’s not numerous time,” mentioned Well being Minister Víctor Atallah, referring to sufferers with accidents together with cranium, femur, and pelvic fractures.
The Jet Set membership was full of high-profile friends—musicians, athletes, and authorities officers—when mud reportedly started to fall from the ceiling. Inside minutes, the complete roof collapsed.
Authorities have recognized 146 our bodies to date. The tragedy has left dozens of households ready anxiously for information of their family members.
Among the many deceased are former MLB gamers Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, and Nelsy Cruz, brother of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz and governor of Montecristi province.
Dotel’s wake on Wednesday drew a whole bunch, together with Corridor of Famer David Ortiz. “He was an individual whom everybody beloved,” Ortiz mentioned. “It’s very laborious, very laborious, actually.”
Different victims embody a retired UN official, saxophonist Luis Solís, New York-based designer Martín Polanco, the son and daughter-in-law of the general public works minister, the brother of the vice minister of youth, and three workers of Grupo Well-liked, together with the president of AFP Well-liked Financial institution and his spouse.
Following the collapse, the 911 system obtained greater than 100 calls, many from folks trapped beneath the rubble, in accordance with system director Randolfo Rijo Gómez. He mentioned police arrived on the scene in 90 seconds, adopted shortly by 25 troopers, seven hearth brigades, and 77 ambulances.
Prosecutors are actually concerned because the Dominican Republic authorities prepares for a full investigation as soon as restoration efforts finish. It stays unclear what brought on the collapse or when the constructing was final inspected.
Jet Set membership administration issued a statement saying it’s cooperating with authorities. A spokesperson for the proudly owning household declined to remark additional on the constructing’s inspection historical past.
