Deadly Nightclub Roof Collapse in Dominican Republic Kills 27, Injures Singer Rubby Pérez

The roof of the Jet Set nightclub, a well-known venue in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, collapsed during a live performance early Tuesday (April 8). CNN reports at least 27 people have been confirmed dead, with the Associated Press reporting that at least 120 were injured.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse.

Among the injured is merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof fell, officials said. The singer is being transferred to the Plaza de la Salud hospital, according to medical director Nepomuceno Mejía.

Billboard Español had reached out to Pérez’s management.

The authorities informed that among the deceased in the collapse of the Jet Set is the governor of Montecristi, Nelsy Milagros Cruz Martinez, according to Dominican newspaper El Día.

The AP reported that the Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, spoke to reporters at the scene about the collapse that happened about an hour after the show began at midnight. Paulino said that Pérez’s saxophone player was killed in the incident.

Authorities have launched extensive search and rescue efforts, with the national police sharing on its Instagram account early Tuesday that there have been “101 transfers have been made to different hospital centers in the National District,” noting that “search, rescue and medical assistance” is ongoing in the area, where an estimated 300 people had gathered for the concert.

“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, said of the search for survivors and victims inside the venue, according to the AP.

“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” Paulino told reporters of the rumble that he initially thought was an earthquake. Video taken just before the roof collapse shows Pérez and fans enjoying themselves before a large crash is heard as the clip goes dark.

Carolina Mejía de Garrigó, the mayor of Santo Domingo, discussed the “terrible tragedy” and the action being taken in messages posted to X. “My deepest sympathy goes out to the families still waiting for news of their loved ones,” she wrote. “Our National District Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committee is active and in permanent session. We will continue to make every effort and remain united in prayer.”

President Luis Abinader also wrote on X that all rescue agencies are “working tirelessly” to help those affected. “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he shared.

This is a developing story.