A night meant for music and celebration turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when the roof of Santo Domingo’s iconic Jet Set nightclub collapsed early Tuesday morning, killing at least 98 people and injuring 150 more, according to officials.
The popular venue, a landmark in Dominican nightlife, is known for hosting high-profile events. Early Tuesday morning, it was packed with guests — including politicians, athletes, and local celebrities — when disaster struck during a lively merengue concert. The collapse happened just before 1 a.m., trapping dozens beneath concrete and rubble.
The concert was headlined by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez when the roof suddenly gave way. His manager confirmed that Pérez was among those who lost their lives in the tragedy. According to the BBC, the death toll has risen to at least 98, with more than 150 others injured.
Former MLB players died
Among the dead are two well-known former Major League Baseball players: 51-year-old pitcher Octavio Dotel and former Washington Nationals infielder Tony Blanco. Dotel was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital, but he later died from his injuries, the Dominican Republic’s Professional Baseball League confirmed on X.
Dotel set a then-record by playing for 13 different MLB teams over the course of his career, spending his longest stretch with the Houston Astros from 2000 to 2004.
The pinnacle of his career came in 2011 when he helped the St. Louis Cardinals capture a World Series title. He wrapped up his time in the majors with the Detroit Tigers in 2013. Known for his ability to rack up strikeouts, Dotel was considered one of the league’s top relief pitchers at his peak.
During Tuesday afternoon’s Mets-Marlins broadcast, longtime Mets announcer Gary Cohen reflected on Octavio Dotel’s legacy, saying, “Everyone who ever met Octavio loved him.”
Dotel’s path to the big leagues wasn’t easy. He faced serious personal hardship, including the tragic loss of his father, who was killed during a robbery. Baseball became his escape — a way to keep going in the face of grief.
“I can do nothing if I go to the ballpark and think about him all the time,” Dotel shared. “I just have to keep playing hard and get what I’m looking for. I think God helps me because I’m here. I’m here and I appreciate it. I would enjoy it more if my dad was still here, but everybody’s got to die.”
Former Washington Nationals player Tony Blanco — whose full name was Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera — was also among those who tragically lost their lives in the collapse, league spokesman Satosky Terrero confirmed.
Kept hearing sounds
The country is also mourning another devastating loss: Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi province and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, who also died in the collapse.
According to First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Cruz had managed to call President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m. from inside the nightclub, reporting that the roof had caved in and she was trapped. She later died at the hospital, officials confirmed via the Associated Press.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center for Emergency Operations, said search and rescue efforts continued non-stop throughout the day.
“We continue clearing debris and searching for people,” Méndez said on April 8.
“We’re going to search tirelessly for people.”
Despite the dangers, rescue crews kept pulling survivors from the rubble nearly 12 hours after the collapse. Firefighters used drills to cut through concrete while others worked with wooden planks and bare hands to lift debris.
“We’re hearing some sounds,” Mendez said, raising hopes that more survivors could be found.
Video taken from inside the nightclub
Enrique Paulino, manager of the performing Rubby Pérez, spoke to reporters at the scene, his shirt stained with blood. He revealed that the concert had started shortly before midnight and the roof came down less than an hour later—killing the group’s saxophonist.
Video taken from inside the nightclub captures people seated at tables near the stage, while others dance in the back as singer Rubby Pérez performs.
In another clip, recorded on a mobile phone and shared on social media, a man standing close to the stage is heard saying, “something fell from the ceiling,” while pointing toward the roof. Rubby Pérez appears to glance in the same direction, seemingly reacting to the commotion.
Less than half a minute later, a loud noise is heard before the screen abruptly goes black. A woman can then be heard crying out, “Dad, what’s happened to you?”
According to one of Pérez’s bandmates, the venue was packed when the ceiling gave way. “I thought it was an earthquake,” the musician told local media, adding that the incident occurred “at around 1am.”
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the collapse. It remains unclear when the building was last inspected or if structural warnings had been ignored.
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