- Thirteen fatalities confirmed with over 70 injured individuals transported to hospitals
- Structural failure occurred during peak hours at popular Jet Set nightclub
- Internationally renowned artist Rubby Pérez hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries
Emergency crews worked through the night in Santo Domingo’s Cristo Rey neighborhood following the catastrophic collapse of the Jet Set discotheque roof. Preliminary reports suggest the incident occurred at 12:42 AM local time during a packed merengue performance. The Dominican Republic’s National Police confirmed rescue teams extracted 84 people from the wreckage within the first six hours of operations.
Structural engineers speculate that a combination of outdated building codes and recent tropical storm damage may have contributed to the disaster. The Caribbean Tourism Organization reports this marks the third entertainment venue collapse in the region since 2020. Nightlife safety protocols are under renewed scrutiny as recovery efforts continue.
Local hospitals activated mass casualty protocols, with critical patients being transferred to Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Hospital. Health officials confirmed eight victims remain in intensive care, including two foreign nationals from Canada and France. The Dominican Civil Defense Force has established a family reunification center near the disaster site.
Entertainment industry analysts note this tragedy follows similar incidents in Puerto Rico (2017) and Jamaica (2021), where inadequate maintenance of aging venues led to fatal structural failures. The Dominican Association of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers plans to conduct a full forensic analysis of the collapse site once rescue operations conclude.