Latest news with #JetSetMondays'
Boston Globe
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
What to know on the roof collapse at the Jet Set club in the Dominican Republic
A police officer reacted during the search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub. Ricardo Hernandez/Associated Press What happened? The roof collapsed nearly an hour after the merengue concert headed by Rubby Pérez began at Jet Set, which was known for hosting merengue parties every Monday that drew international and national artists and high-profile Dominicans. A video posted on social media shows parts of the roof falling as people began to move away seconds before the entire roof fell. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was the first person to alert Dominican President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him and said she was buried under the debris, according to first lady Raquel Abraje. Advertisement Nelsy Cruz later died at the hospital from her injuries, officials said. People read lists of survivors as crews searched for others trapped at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed. Ricardo Hernandez/Associated Press Why did the roof collapse? Authorities say it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and created makeshift planks to try and reach survivors buried under the debris. It's unclear how often government officials inspect buildings in the Dominican Republic and when the last inspection was done at Jet Set. Advertisement A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works told The Associated Press that all officials were on scene and not available. She referred questions to the mayor's office. A spokesperson for the mayor's office could not be reached for comment. The owners of Jet Set, who issued a statement saying they were cooperating with authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment. Uncredited/Associated Press Who are the victims? Relatives of merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, said earlier that he was rescued. But Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, said late Tuesday afternoon that information 'turned out to be false.' He said rescue crews were still looking for Pérez. Meanwhile, the singer's manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, said the group's saxophonist died. The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel died. Officials had earlier rescued Dotel from the debris and transported him to a hospital. Also killed was Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, said Satosky Terrero, league spokesman. What is Jet Set? It's an iconic nightclub in southern Santo Domingo that has operated for nearly five decades. It was known for its 'Jet Set Mondays' that featured local and international artists. The club opened in 1973 as a club and restaurant, becoming the most popular venue of its kind in the Dominican Republic, according to Listín Diario, a local newspaper. It later moved from the place where it originally opened, celebrating its first anniversary with merengue and salsa icon Johnny Ventura. The club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, and it was struck by lightning in 2023, according to the newspaper. General admission tickets for Monday's concert with Rubby Pérez were $32, while the VIP ones were $40, according to the club's website. Advertisement What's next? Rescue crews were to continue looking for survivors through the night. While an in-depth investigation into the collapse is expected, authorities have not yet commented on what might have caused the roof to fall, including any potential preliminary findings. Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while 'everyone wants to know' what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- The Independent
Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse death toll soars to 98 as ex-baseball star confirmed killed
Rescue workers are frantically searching for survivors in the rubble of an iconic Dominican Republic nightclub where 98 people were killed and over 160 injured after the roof collapsed on concertgoers. About 12 hours after the tragedy struck at the Jet Set nightclub in the capital city of Santo Domingo, rescue workers say they are hearing sounds of survivors in the rubble of mangled concrete and iron bars. The dead include former Major League Baseball player Octavio Dotel, 51. Another Dominican baseball player, Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, was also killed, league spokesperson Satosky Terrero confirmed. There were almost 300 people inside the one-storey club for a concert by merengue artist Rubby Pérez and his orchestra when the roof came crashing down at around 1am local time on Tuesday. The whereabouts of Mr Pérez and his band remain unknown. Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations, said they were hopeful of pulling out survivors. "We continue clearing debris and searching for people," he said on Tuesday night. "We are going to search tirelessly for people." Mr Mendez said that rescue crews were prioritising three areas of the nightclub where they were 'hearing some sounds'. The rescuer workers removed broken concrete blocks and used sawed pieces of wood as planks to lift heavy debris as the noise of drills breaking through concrete filled the air. Relatives of the missing concertgoers gathered at the scene with pictures of their loved ones as the injured were taken to hospitals in ambulances. Aerial footage of the site shows a gaping hole in the middle of the venue. Footage from inside the club purports to show the final moments before the roof collapse: It shows the orchestra playing as people enjoying in front of the stage are startled by a loud noise of a collapsing roof before the lights turn off and video goes dark. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of Major League Baseball star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims as well. She had called president Luis Abinader at 12.49am, saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, first lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials said she died later at the hospital. 'This is too great a tragedy,' the first lady said, her voice breaking. Fellow national politician Bray Vargas was among those injured. Opened in 1973, Jet Set is an iconic nightclub located in southern Santo Domingo. It was known for its 'Jet Set Mondays' that featured local and international artists. The club, which underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, was struck by lightning in 2023. The reason for the roof collapse is unknown. The club's owner, Antonio Espaillat, who was out of the country and returned on Tuesday, issued a statement saying they were cooperating with authorities. "There are no words to express the pain this event has caused,' he said. 'What happened has been devastating for everyone." Family members of Mr Perez, the singer who was performing when the roof collapsed, initially said he had been rescued, but Mr Mendez later said rescue crews were still looking for him. The singer's manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene the concert started shortly before midnight with the roof collapsing almost an hour later, killing the band's saxophonist. 'It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner," he said, adding that he initially thought it was an earthquake. A makeshift morgue was set up near the club to keep the dead bodies as relatives gathered to find their loved ones. More than 120 people lined up to donate blood at two different centres. Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert but did not return home, was among those anxiously waiting outside the club. 'We are holding on only to God," Mr Olivo said. Mr Abinader said all rescue agencies were "working tirelessly" to help those affected. "We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred," the president wrote on X. Mr Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces. "We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive," the president told reporters.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What is known about the roof collapse at a club in the Dominican Republic that killed at least 44
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The roof of an iconic nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic collapsed nearly an hour after a merengue concert, killing at least 44 people and injuring at least 160. Politicians and athletes were among those attending Jet Set in Santo Domingo when disaster struck Tuesday. Officials said it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Rescue crews were still searching for survivors in the rubble more than 12 hours after the roof collapsed as a crowd of people awaiting word from their loved ones waited anxiously nearby. What happened? The roof collapsed nearly an hour after the merengue concert headed by Rubby Pérez began at Jet Set, which was known for hosting merengue parties every Monday that drew international and national artists and high-profile Dominicans. A video posted on social media shows parts of the roof falling as people began to move away seconds before the entire roof fell. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was the first person to alert Dominican President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him and said she was buried under the debris, according to First Lady Raquel Abraje. Nelsy Cruz later died at the hospital from her injuries, officials said. Why did the roof collapse? Authorities say it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and created makeshift planks to try and reach survivors buried under the debris. It's unclear how often government officials inspect buildings in the Dominican Republic and when the last inspection was done at Jet Set, if ever. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works told The Associated Press that all officials were on scene and not immediately available. She referred questions to the mayor's office. A spokesperson for the mayor's office could not be immediately reached for comment. The owners of Jet Set, who issued a statement saying they were cooperating with authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment. Who has been rescued? Among those who survived is Rubby Pérez, who was singing when the roof collapsed, officials said. His daughter, Zulinka Pérez, who also survived, told reporters that he began singing so rescue crews could find him underneath the debris. However, the singer's manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, said the group's saxophonist died. Also rescued was Bray Vargas, a legislator that represents the northern province of Santiago. What is Jet Set? It's an iconic nightclub located in southern Santo Domingo that has operated for nearly five decades. It was known for its 'Jet Set Mondays' that featured local and international artists. The club opened in 1973 as a club and restaurant, becoming the most popular venue of its kind in the Dominican Republic, according to Listín Diario, a local newspaper. It later moved from the place where it originally opened, celebrating its first anniversary with merengue and salsa icon Johnny Ventura. The club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, and it was struck by lightning in 2023, according to the newspaper. General admission tickets for Monday's concert with Rubby Pérez were $32, while the VIP ones were $40, according to the club's website. What's next? Rescue crews were still looking for survivors as of late Tuesday afternoon, and government officials have not said when they would shift to a recovery phase. While an in-depth investigation into the collapse is expected, authorities have not yet commented on what might have caused the roof to fall, including any potential preliminary findings. Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while 'everyone wants to know' what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors.
The Hill
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
What is known about the roof collapse at a club in the Dominican Republic that killed at least 44
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The roof of an iconic nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic collapsed nearly an hour after a merengue concert, killing at least 44 people and injuring at least 160. Politicians and athletes were among those attending Jet Set in Santo Domingo when disaster struck Tuesday. Officials said it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Rescue crews were still searching for survivors in the rubble more than 12 hours after the roof collapsed as a crowd of people awaiting word from their loved ones waited anxiously nearby. What happened? The roof collapsed nearly an hour after the merengue concert headed by Rubby Pérez began at Jet Set, which was known for hosting merengue parties every Monday that drew international and national artists and high-profile Dominicans. A video posted on social media shows parts of the roof falling as people began to move away seconds before the entire roof fell. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was the first person to alert Dominican President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him and said she was buried under the debris, according to First Lady Raquel Abraje. Nelsy Cruz later died at the hospital from her injuries, officials said. Why did the roof collapse? Authorities say it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and created makeshift planks to try and reach survivors buried under the debris. It's unclear how often government officials inspect buildings in the Dominican Republic and when the last inspection was done at Jet Set, if ever. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works told The Associated Press that all officials were on scene and not immediately available. She referred questions to the mayor's office. A spokesperson for the mayor's office could not be immediately reached for comment. The owners of Jet Set, who issued a statement saying they were cooperating with authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment. Who has been rescued? Among those who survived is Rubby Pérez, who was singing when the roof collapsed, officials said. His daughter, Zulinka Pérez, who also survived, told reporters that he began singing so rescue crews could find him underneath the debris. However, the singer's manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, said the group's saxophonist died. Also rescued was Bray Vargas, a legislator that represents the northern province of Santiago. What is Jet Set? It's an iconic nightclub located in southern Santo Domingo that has operated for nearly five decades. It was known for its 'Jet Set Mondays' that featured local and international artists. The club opened in 1973 as a club and restaurant, becoming the most popular venue of its kind in the Dominican Republic, according to Listín Diario, a local newspaper. It later moved from the place where it originally opened, celebrating its first anniversary with merengue and salsa icon Johnny Ventura. The club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, and it was struck by lightning in 2023, according to the newspaper. General admission tickets for Monday's concert with Rubby Pérez were $32, while the VIP ones were $40, according to the club's website. What's next? Rescue crews were still looking for survivors as of late Tuesday afternoon, and government officials have not said when they would shift to a recovery phase. While an in-depth investigation into the collapse is expected, authorities have not yet commented on what might have caused the roof to fall, including any potential preliminary findings. Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while 'everyone wants to know' what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
What is known about the roof collapse at a club in the Dominican Republic that killed at least 44
The roof of an iconic nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic collapsed nearly an hour after a merengue concert, killing at least 44 people and injuring at least 160. Politicians and athletes were among those attending Jet Set in Santo Domingo when disaster struck Tuesday. Officials said it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Rescue crews were still searching for survivors in the rubble more than 12 hours after the roof collapsed as a crowd of people awaiting word from their loved ones waited anxiously nearby. What happened? The roof collapsed nearly an hour after the merengue concert headed by Rubby Pérez began at Jet Set, which was known for hosting merengue parties every Monday that drew international and national artists and high-profile Dominicans. A video posted on social media shows parts of the roof falling as people began to move away seconds before the entire roof fell. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was the first person to alert Dominican President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him and said she was buried under the debris, according to First Lady Raquel Abraje. Nelsy Cruz later died at the hospital from her injuries, officials said. Why did the roof collapse? Authorities say it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and created makeshift planks to try and reach survivors buried under the debris. It's unclear how often government officials inspect buildings in the Dominican Republic and when the last inspection was done at Jet Set, if ever. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works told The Associated Press that all officials were on scene and not immediately available. She referred questions to the mayor's office. A spokesperson for the mayor's office could not be immediately reached for comment. The owners of Jet Set, who issued a statement saying they were cooperating with authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment. Who has been rescued? Among those who survived is Rubby Pérez, who was singing when the roof collapsed, officials said. His daughter, Zulinka Pérez, who also survived, told reporters that he began singing so rescue crews could find him underneath the debris. However, the singer's manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, said the group's saxophonist died. Also rescued was Bray Vargas, a legislator that represents the northern province of Santiago. What is Jet Set? It's an iconic nightclub located in southern Santo Domingo that has operated for nearly five decades. It was known for its 'Jet Set Mondays' that featured local and international artists. The club opened in 1973 as a club and restaurant, becoming the most popular venue of its kind in the Dominican Republic, according to Listín Diario, a local newspaper. It later moved from the place where it originally opened, celebrating its first anniversary with merengue and salsa icon Johnny Ventura. The club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, and it was struck by lightning in 2023, according to the newspaper. General admission tickets for Monday's concert with Rubby Pérez were $32, while the VIP ones were $40, according to the club's website. What's next? Rescue crews were still looking for survivors as of late Tuesday afternoon, and government officials have not said when they would shift to a recovery phase. While an in-depth investigation into the collapse is expected, authorities have not yet commented on what might have caused the roof to fall, including any potential preliminary findings. Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while 'everyone wants to know' what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors.
