The tragic roof collapse of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic has resulted in a heartbreaking loss of 226 lives, as officials have confirmed that all victims’ bodies have been returned to their families. This devastating event, which occurred at the Jet Set club early on Tuesday, has deeply affected the nation.
Health Minister Victor Atallah reported that 221 individuals perished inside the club during the calamity, with four more succumbing in hospitals. In a somber update, the ministry announced the death of a Costa Rican citizen yesterday, bringing the total to 226. However, Mr. Atallah cautioned that several severely injured victims are still fighting for their lives in medical facilities.
This incident marks the worst tragedy the Caribbean nation has faced in decades, drawing a crowd of several hundred who had gathered to witness the merengue singer Rubby Perez. As the situation unfolded, the aftermath has surpassed the previous toll of 136 lives lost in a 2005 prison fire in Higuey, highlighting the immense scale of this disaster.
The president’s office noted that 189 people were rescued alive from the nightclub’s remains, which now lie in disordered heaps of metal and brick. Aerial photographs depict a scene reminiscent of a post-earthquake landscape.
Evening Vigil
In the wake of this tragedy, a makeshift vigil was held near the nightclub on Friday evening, drawing dozens of mourners. “A painted flower for each angel up above,” read one heartfelt message at the altar. Another poignant sentiment echoed, “May their rest be eternal… This great injustice must be explained.”
Arlenne Matos, a resident in close proximity to the club, recounted hearing “an explosion” or “an earthquake” followed by distressing cries. “People were shouting, ‘Let’s get out of here! I’m alive! Help me!’” she recalled. “It’s the greatest tragedy I could imagine in all my years.”
A line of vehicles continuously approached the vigil, with some individuals stepping out in silent reverence, while others brought candles, flowers, handwritten messages, or black and white balloons to honor the deceased.
A Widespread Tragedy
The magnitude of this disaster overwhelmed the local capacity for handling such a significant loss. Health Minister Atallah remarked, “No pathology institute has the capacity to handle so many bodies so quickly.” Meanwhile, authorities promised that all remains would be returned to families by 2 AM on Saturday.
Nevertheless, some families experienced distressing mistakes during the identification process. “They gave us a body that wasn’t hers,” lamented Julio Alberto Acosta, who tragically lost his stepdaughter. “They handed us a bag, and we insisted on opening it to confirm, but it wasn’t her… We want them to give us the right one so her mom can say goodbye and lay her to rest.”
The preliminary list of victims includes individuals from diverse backgrounds: a Haitian, an Italian, two French citizens, and according to the U.S. State Department, “several” Americans. Among those lost were two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor.
In response to the overwhelming need for identification support, twelve additional forensic pathologists were enlisted to assist in the process. The government has extended a national mourning period, initially set for three days, for an additional three days, and announced the formation of a special commission, comprising both national and international experts, to investigate the cause of the disaster. President Abinader pledged, “We will find out what happened, why it happened, how it happened.”
In this time of collective grief, our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy. May their memories live on in our hearts.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
