Off The Record
Club Owner Speaks Out After More Than 200 Lives Were Lost In Tragic Collapse
Following the devastating roof collapse that claimed the lives of at least 200 people, the nightclub’s owner has spoken out.
When the roof of Jet Set fell during a star-studded anniversary party, a night of dancing, music, and joy at one of Santo Domingo’s most famous nightclubs turned into a national tragedy.
What started off as a happy 50th anniversary celebration swiftly turned into one of the most deadly structural catastrophes in Dominican Republic history.
As of this writing, there are 184 people dead and more than 150 injured, including at least eight in serious condition.
The tragedy happened on the evening of April 8, right before renowned merengue performer Rubby Pérez took the stage.
The ceiling collapsed in a matter of seconds, engulfing the crowded nightclub in confusion and darkness.
The eerie silence preceding the abrupt fall was captured on camera inside the arena.
Celebrities, sportsmen, politicians, and fans from all across the nation attended the event, which was widely publicized on Jet Set’s Instagram account, according to the New York Post.
Some of the most well-known figures in the Dominican Republic were among those slain, including former MLB players Tony Blanco and Octavio Dotel, as well as Nelsy Cruz, the sister of MLB great Nelson Cruz and the governor of Montecristi province.
President Luis Abinader visited the scene of the tragedy and promptly announced three days of national mourning.
He later addressed the nation on X, formerly Twitter: “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred. All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”
Antonio Espaillat, the owner of Jet Set, who was abroad when the fall happened, broke his silence on Wednesday by posting a video message to Instagram.
“There are not enough words to express the pain this event generates,” Espaillat said, in a message translated by Dominican Today. “What happened has been devastating for everyone. We want you to know that we are with you and that we share your grief.”
Espaillat acknowledged that he had made his way back to Santo Domingo and was assisting the authorities with the search and rescue.
“The nightclub’s management team is in constant communication with officials,” he stated, and he thanked President Abinader for his presence at the scene, calling it “a clear gesture of solidarity.”
“Today, more than ever, we are a family,” Espaillat concluded.
As the rescue effort shifts into recovery, Emergency Operations Center director Juan Manuel Méndez announced, “There will be a transition from a search and rescue phase to the recovery of the bodies phase.”
Méndez had previously stressed that “until we have combed through everything, we are not going to abandon nobody. We will be here until we have recovered everyone, dead or alive.”
Investigators are still going through the wreckage as they try to determine what caused the deadly fall.
It’s unknown when the arena was last structurally examined, and no official cause has been established.
As the world watches the grief unfold, the video from the incident has gone viral. Witnesses claim to have heard odd creaks before the roof collapsed.
The fatality toll, which is still preliminary, could grow more as recovery workers put in endless hours.
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