The owner of the nightclub where a tragic roof collapse killed at least 184 people has spoken out following the disaster.
A night of music, dancing, and celebration at one of Santo Domingo’s most iconic nightclubs turned into a national tragedy after the roof of Jet Set collapsed during a star-studded anniversary event.
What began as a joyous 50th anniversary party quickly became one of the deadliest structural disasters in the Dominican Republic's history.
At the time of writing, the death toll has climbed to 184, with over 150 others injured, including at least eight in critical condition.
The catastrophe occurred on the night of April 8, just as famed merengue singer Rubby Pérez had taken the stage.
In seconds, the packed nightclub was plunged into darkness and chaos as the ceiling came crashing down.
Footage from inside the venue captured the chilling moment of silence before the sudden collapse.
The event, which had been heavily promoted by Jet Set’s Instagram account, drew a crowd of celebrities, athletes, politicians, and fans from across the country, per the New York Post.
Among those killed were some of the Dominican Republic’s most revered names, including former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of MLB star Nelson Cruz.
President Luis Abinader quickly declared three days of national mourning and visited the disaster site.
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.”
The owner of Jet Set, Antonio Espaillat, who was out of the country when the collapse occurred, broke his silence in a video message posted to Instagram on Wednesday.
“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 confirmed he had returned to Santo Domingo and was cooperating with authorities during the rescue and investigation efforts.
“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.”
As questions mount over what caused the fatal collapse, investigators are still combing through the debris.
No official cause has been confirmed, and it remains unclear when the venue was last structurally inspected.
Eyewitnesses describe hearing strange creaks before the roof gave way, and the footage from the event has gone viral as the world watches the heartbreak unfold.
The death toll - currently a preliminary figure - may continue to rise as recovery crews work tirelessly around the clock.