Mourners bid farewell as death toll reaches 221 in Dominican nightclub collapse

File Source: Ideastream

Burials began Thursday for the victims of a tragic nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic that claimed 221 lives. Among the deceased were merengue icon Rubby Pérez, renowned baseball star, and other victims, all killed when a cement roof collapsed during a packed performance at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo.

Pérez, 69, was on stage performing Tuesday morning when the unthinkable happened. As dust began to fall from the ceiling, the roof collapsed, trapping dozens of partygoers. Pérez, a beloved figure in Dominican music, had been performing “Volveré” with his orchestra when the tragedy struck.

At Santo Domingo’s National Theater, mourners, many in black and white, gathered to pay their respects. Pérez’s body lay in a closed coffin as mourners filled the theater. Among those paying tribute was President Luis Abinader and first lady Raquel Arbaje, who stood beside the coffin for several moments, offering condolences. The somber atmosphere was heightened by a recording of Pérez singing the national anthem, which echoed through the theater as some mourners broke down in tears. Renowned Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra was also present.

Pérez, who had transitioned to music after a car accident ended his dream of becoming a professional baseball player, was known for hits like “Volveré” and “Buscando tus besos.” Following a moving five-hour memorial, mourners released white balloons into the sky, singing Pérez’s signature song in unison. One woman, overwhelmed by emotion, placed her hand over her heart as she wept.

Outside the theater, Pérez’s daughter, Zulinka Pérez, reflected on the outpouring of love for her father, saying, “I knew he was loved but I never imagined this.”

As the day progressed, heavy equipment began withdrawing from the collapsed site of the Jet Set club, marking the end of the search for survivors. Authorities confirmed that the death toll had stabilized at 221. Rescue operations had managed to pull 189 people from the rubble, though more than 200 sustained injuries. Of the injured, 23 remain hospitalized, with eight in critical condition. Health Minister Víctor Atallah warned that for some, time was running out. “If the trauma is too great, there’s not a lot of time left,” he said, referring to those in the most critical condition.

Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, with authorities unsure when the building was last inspected or what exactly caused the roof to give way. The government has promised a thorough investigation, and the club’s owners have pledged full cooperation.

Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, struggled to contain his emotions as he addressed the media, his voice breaking with emotion. “Thank you, God, because today we accomplished the most difficult task I’ve had in 20 years,” he said, before breaking down in tears and passing the microphone to an army official. The tragedy remains under investigation as the nation mourns the loss of so many lives.