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Rescue workers have confirmed that the number of people killed in the Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse has increased to 98 on Wednesday morning.
Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), confirmed that more than 400 rescuers are methodically searching through the debris in an effort to find survivors. Méndez hopes that individuals trapped under the collapsed structure might still be rescued. “We are doing everything possible to reach those still buried,” he said in a briefing.
The collapse occurred at Jet Set, one of Santo Domingo’s most popular nightclubs renowned for its live dance music performances on Monday nights. At the time of the collapse, several prominent figures from the realms of politics, sports, and entertainment were in attendance.
Credit: Prensa Servicio 911 / AFP
Footage taken inside the venue prior to the incident captured concertgoers dancing and enjoying their evening while Rubby Pérez performed on stage. In a separate video circulating on social media, a man near the stage points toward the ceiling and states, “something fell from the ceiling,” just moments before a loud crashing noise is heard and the screen goes dark. Shortly after, a woman’s anguished cry can be heard as she exclaims, “Dad, what’s happened to you?”
President Abinader has declared a period of mourning and pledged full support for the ongoing rescue and recovery operations, even as emergency crews continue to work through the wreckage amid growing fears that the death toll could increase further.
