Death Toll in Dominican Republic Nightclub Roof Collapse Reaches 218

The tragic collapse of the roof at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has claimed the lives of at least 218 people, as authorities continue to sift through debris in the search for victims.

Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the Center for Emergency Operations, confirmed Thursday that recovery teams had made significant progress but were still focusing on a small section of rubble. “We are nearing the end of our search efforts, but the area left to clear is very limited,” Méndez said. Despite extensive search operations, no survivors have been found since the afternoon of Tuesday, April 8.

The incident has left more than 200 people injured, and several remain in critical condition. The most severe injuries were caused by falling cement slabs, which crushed attendees during the collapse. Health Minister Víctor Atallah warned that time is running out for some of the critically injured patients, many of whom have sustained fractures in vital areas like the skull and pelvis.

Among the injured were several high-profile individuals, including former Major League Baseball players and prominent local figures. The list of deceased includes well-known figures from the music industry, politics, and business. Merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing on stage at the time of the collapse, was among those killed.

The incident took place at one of the country’s most renowned nightclubs, which had been hosting a packed audience of musicians, athletes, and officials. The roof gave way unexpectedly, with eyewitnesses reporting dust falling onto the crowd moments before the entire structure collapsed.

Rescue teams received over 100 emergency calls following the disaster, including several from individuals trapped under the rubble. Local emergency services responded rapidly, with police and fire brigades arriving within minutes. Authorities activated a large-scale rescue operation, deploying thermal imaging cameras, rescue dogs, and over 70 ambulances to the scene. As of Thursday, more than 180 people had been rescued from the wreckage.