In the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, what was supposed to be a night of celebration at the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo turned into a tragedy that has shocked the Dominican Republic. During a live performance by renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez, the establishment's roof suddenly collapsed, leaving at least 18 people dead and more than 120 people injured or trapped under the rubble.
This was revealed by the director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Juan Manuel Méndez, who said that there were 300 people inside the facility at the time of the collapse.
A night that ended in death
The clock read 12:44 a.m. when the music and dancing were interrupted by a loud bang that terrified the audience. According to witnesses, an area of the ceiling of the nightclub began to show signs of instability before collapsing on the crowd. "Something fell from the ceiling. Do you see it? Something fell," one man commented in a video recorded moments before the collapse.
In the footage, several attendees can be seen looking up at a luminous structure attached to the ceiling, just before everything collapsed.
Among those present was Pérez, who managed to survive the incident and was taken to a hospital where he is in stable condition. His daughter, Zulinka Pérez, recounted how her husband asked her to escape first to ensure their son had someone to care for him if he didn't make it. "He told me, 'Get out so the child isn't left alone if this whole thing collapses.' I crawled out," she said through tears.
#EsNoticia | 🇩🇴🚨 Tragedia durante concierto de Rubby Pérez en República Dominicana
— EVTV (@EVTVMiami) April 8, 2025
En horas de la madrugada de este martes #8Abr, el merenguero se encontraba amenizando la discoteca Jet Set en Santo Domingo, cuando el techo del recinto colapsó, dejando hasta los momentos 12… pic.twitter.com/ZhpWI9tBA2
Rescue and despair
Since the first hours after the collapse, emergency teams have worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and recover the bodies of the victims. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) deployed a massive operation with more than 77 ambulances, specialized units for collapsed structures, and hundreds of rescuers. "We presume that many are still alive under the rubble, and that's why we won't rest until we find every single person," Méndez stated.
The scene outside the club was heartbreaking. Family members and friends gathered, hoping for news of their loved ones. At one of the hospitals where the injured were taken, an officer read aloud the names of the survivors as the crowd screamed for answers.
Al menos 18 personas murieron y decenas más resultaron heridas este martes por el *colapso del techo de la discoteca Jet Set*, en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, de acuerdo con el director del Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias. https://t.co/iWUnTCz6PU
— Javier Vivas Santana (@vivassantanaj_) April 8, 2025
Among the victims: prominent figures
Among the dead is Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi and sister of former Major League Baseball player Nelson Cruz. Nelsy died while receiving medical attention after undergoing surgery for injuries sustained during the collapse. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel is also among the missing; his family has attempted to contact him without success since the incident.
The Dominican arts and sports community is also shaken by this tragedy. The Jet Set nightclub , known as a symbol of Santo Domingo's nightlife for decades, has been the setting for countless memorable performances. Today, that legacy is marked by grief and uncertainty.
Official reactions
President Luis Abinader expressed his condolences on social media and assured that all rescue agencies are working tirelessly to assist the victims. "We deeply regret this tragedy at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been monitoring the situation minute by minute since it occurred," he wrote.
For now, the causes of the collapse remain unknown. Experts are investigating whether there were structural failures or if some other factor contributed to the disaster.
