Over 200 dead, including former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, after roof collapses at Dominican Republic nightclub

The dying toll continues to rise amid an ongoing search and rescue effort after the roof of a Dominican Republic nightclub collapsed throughout a live performance.

At the very least 218 folks had been killed, Dominican authorities stated on Thursday, and one other 155 injured within the roof collapse on the Jet Set nightclub, situated within the capital of Santo Domingo, in accordance with nationwide police.

The incident occurred at 12:34 a.m. Tuesday, throughout a live performance by the Dominican merengue singer Rubby Pérez, in accordance with the police. The roof collapsed inside seconds, police stated.

Specialised technical groups had been energetic all through Wednesday and on Thursday, with heavy equipment employed for particles removing, officers stated. Forensic police specialists have been deployed to determine deceased victims utilizing trendy biometric identification methods, authorities stated Thursday.

“We deeply remorse the tragedy that occurred on the Jet Set nightclub,” Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader stated in a publish on social media. “We have now been following the incident minute by minute because it occurred. All reduction companies have supplied the mandatory help and are working tirelessly within the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected households.”

Pérez, 69, a famend singer within the nation, was discovered lifeless within the collapsed membership, in accordance with the Dominican Republic’s Nationwide Police.

A tribute posted to his Instagram account stated Pérez’s music and legacy “will stay eternally in our hearts.”

Former MLB gamers amongst these killed

The incident has impacted these with ties to Main League Baseball, with two former gamers amongst these killed and different athletes’ relations concerned.

The deceased included former MLB participant Octavio Dotel, 51, in accordance with the Dominican Republic’s minister of inside and police, Faride Raful.

Dotel was pulled from the rubble by rescue crews however died in an ambulance whereas en path to a hospital, in accordance with Col. Randolfo Rijo Gomez, head of the nation’s 911 emergency companies.

The Dominican pitcher performed for 13 MLB groups, together with the Mets, which held a second of silence for Dotel earlier than their sport on Tuesday.

“We mourn the passing of Octavio Dotel,” the Mets stated in a social media post. “Our ideas are with everybody affected by the tragedy within the Dominican Republic.”

Dotel was a part of a mixed no-hitter towards the Yankees in June 2003, a group he would play for 3 years later.

One other former MLB participant, 44-year-old Tony Blanco, was additionally killed within the roof collapse, in accordance with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Sports and Recreation. The Dominican baseball participant performed for the Washington Nationals in addition to professionally in Japan and the Dominican Republic.

“His legacy will stay on within the historical past of nationwide baseball,” the ministry stated in an announcement on social media. “We share of their grief with their household, mates, and colleagues, and we provide our prayers for his or her everlasting relaxation.”

Montecristi Gov. Nelsy Milagros Cruz Martinez was additionally amongst these killed, in accordance with nationwide police and Abinader’s workplace. She was the sister of former MLB star Nelson Cruz, who shared an announcement from the Cruz Martinez household on social media that stated her “legacy of service and love for others will stay eternally in our hearts.”

“Main League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all of the victims of final night time’s tragedy in Santo Domingo,” MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. stated in an announcement on Tuesday. “We ship our heartfelt condolences to the households and mates of all those that have been affected and to our colleague Nelson and his total household. 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 in the present day.”

MLB Corridor of Famer Pedro Martinez stated Tuesday that he has relations lacking within the rubble.

“We do not know what occurred to them, however we simply need to be sturdy like we’ve all the time been,” the Dominican-born pitcher stated in a video posted to Instagram. “We’re a rustic that prays loads and stays united on a regular basis. So I simply hope that everyone has the identical braveness.”

Investigation underway

Dressmaker Martin Polanco died within the roof collapse, his household confirmed to ABC Information on Wednesday. A vogue icon within the Dominican Republic, Polanco dressed artists together with Daddy Yankee and Sergio Vargas in addition to designed for Abinader.

At the very least one U.S. citizen was amongst these killed, in accordance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. U.S. lawful everlasting residents additionally died within the collapse, in accordance with Rubio, who didn’t specify what number of.

“Our hearts exit to the households and family members affected by this devastating occasion,” he stated in a post on X on Wednesday. “The U.S. stands able to assist our Dominican allies amid this tough time.”

Many households gathered on the website searching for their family members who had been contained in the membership, in accordance with DJ Shakirax, who was on the nightclub and shared movies from the scene on Tuesday.

An investigation into the reason for the collapse is underway, police stated.

There was a hearth in 2023 that broken a part of the nightclub, authorities stated.

ABC Information’ Aicha El Hammar Castano and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.