Death Toll Hits 218 After Nightclub Roof Collapse in Dominican Republic

Hope Fades for Finding Survivors as Search and Rescue Operation Turns to Recovery

Officials in the Dominican Republic have raised the death toll from the catastrophic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the capital city of Santo Domingo to 218, as hopes of finding survivors fade and the rescue operation transitions to a recovery phase.

Details of the Tragedy

Local media, citing the country’s emergency operations director, Juan Manuel Mendez, reported on Thursday that at least 218 people had perished in the incident, with 189 others “rescued alive.” However, Mendez stressed that this was a "preliminary figure."

"We are not going to abandon anyone. We will continue our efforts until we have recovered everyone, whether dead or alive," Mendez emphasized. As of Tuesday afternoon, no survivors had been found under the rubble.

The tragic collapse occurred during a packed event at the nightclub, which hosted musicians, professional athletes, and government officials. Dust began falling from the ceiling, landing in people’s drinks, just moments before the roof came down.

Rescue Efforts Shift to Recovery

As rescue teams transitioned to recovery operations, a growing crowd of friends and relatives gathered outside the National Institute of Forensic Pathology in Santo Domingo, awaiting news about their loved ones. The authorities have identified 54 victims so far, and 28 bodies have been released to families. However, 33 bodies remain unidentified, and the total number of bodies recovered has yet to be fully confirmed.

More than 20 of the approximately 150 people injured in the collapse remain hospitalized, with at least eight in critical condition. According to Dr. Julio Landron, the director of Dr. Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital, the survivors are mostly young individuals, some of whom spent hours trapped under rubble. "They sustained multiple fractures and severe injuries, including skull, femur, and pelvis fractures, related to being crushed under debris," Dr. Landron stated.

Ongoing Investigation

The cause of the roof collapse is still under investigation. The nightclub has issued a statement expressing its cooperation with the authorities, while the Ministry of Public Works has referred all related questions to the mayor’s office, which has yet to comment on the situation.