What is known about the roof collapse at a club in the Dominican Republic that killed at least 44

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The roof of an iconic nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic collapsed nearly an hour after a merengue concert, killing at least 44 people and injuring at least 160. Politicians and athletes were among those attending Jet Set in Santo Domingo when disaster struck Tuesday.

Officials said it’s too early to determine why the roof fell.

Rescue crews were still searching for survivors in the rubble more than 12 hours after the roof collapsed as a crowd of people awaiting word from their loved ones waited anxiously nearby.

What happened?

The roof collapsed nearly an hour after the merengue concert headed by Rubby Pérez began at Jet Set, which was known for hosting merengue parties every Monday that drew international and national artists and high-profile Dominicans.

A video posted on social media shows parts of the roof falling as people began to move away seconds before the entire roof fell.

Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was the first person to alert Dominican President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him and said she was buried under the debris, according to First Lady Raquel Abraje.

Nelsy Cruz later died at the hospital from her injuries, officials said.

Why did the roof collapse?

Authorities say it’s too early to determine why the roof fell. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and created makeshift planks to try and reach survivors buried under the debris.

It’s unclear how often government officials inspect buildings in the Dominican Republic and when the last inspection was done at Jet Set, if ever.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works told The Associated Press that all officials were on scene and not immediately available. She referred questions to the mayor’s office.

A spokesperson for the mayor’s office could not be immediately reached for comment.

The owners of Jet Set, who issued a statement saying they were cooperating with authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Who has been rescued?

Among those who survived is Rubby Pérez, who was singing when the roof collapsed, officials said.

His daughter, Zulinka Pérez, who also survived, told reporters that he began singing so rescue crews could find him underneath the debris.

However, the singer’s manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, said the group’s saxophonist died.

Also rescued was Bray Vargas, a legislator that represents the northern province of Santiago.

What is Jet Set?

It’s an iconic nightclub located in southern Santo Domingo that has operated for nearly five decades. It was known for its “Jet Set Mondays” that featured local and international artists.

The club opened in 1973 as a club and restaurant, becoming the most popular venue of its kind in the Dominican Republic, according to Listín Diario, a local newspaper.

It later moved from the place where it originally opened, celebrating its first anniversary with merengue and salsa icon Johnny Ventura.

The club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, and it was struck by lightning in 2023, according to the newspaper.

General admission tickets for Monday’s concert with Rubby Pérez were $32, while the VIP ones were $40, according to the club’s website.

What’s next?

Rescue crews were still looking for survivors as of late Tuesday afternoon, and government officials have not said when they would shift to a recovery phase.

While an in-depth investigation into the collapse is expected, authorities have not yet commented on what might have caused the roof to fall, including any potential preliminary findings.

Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while “everyone wants to know” what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors.