Over 100 people were killed while several others were injured in in roof collapse at a Dominican Republic nightclub at midnight.
As per media reports, the roof collapsed when popular singer Rubby Perez’s concert was underway. The singer is also dead.
Renowned Dominican merengue singer Perez was on stage at the popular Jet Set nightclub when the roof collapsed shortly after midnight on Tuesday. He was one of those killed, according to his manager.
About 370 rescue personnel combed mounds of fallen bricks, steel bars, and tin sheets for survivors.
Also among the dead was 51-year-old retired Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, who won a World Series in 2011 with the St Louis Cardinals.
He was rescued alive but died of his injuries while being taken to the hospital, local media reported.
A black-and-white photo of the player and images of the Dominican flag were projected onto the scoreboard at Citi Field in New York before Tuesday’s game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins.
“Peace to his soul,” the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League wrote on social media.
Local media said there were between 500 and 1,000 people in the club when disaster struck at around 12:44 am (0444 GMT) Tuesday. The club has capacity for 700 people seated and about 1,000 people standing.
Dozens of ambulances ferried the injured to the hospital, as scores of people gathered outside the venue desperately seeking news of their loved ones.
Perez was on stage when there was a blackout and the roof came crashing down, according to eyewitness reports.
Perez’s daughter Zulinka told reporters she had managed to escape after the roof collapsed, but he did not.
Also among the dead was the governor of the Monte Cristi municipality, Nelsy Cruz, according to President Luis Abinader.
The president visited the scene and declared three days of national mourning.
