JET SET NIGHT CLUB TRAGEDY

WHEN A SEARCH FOR LIFE BECOMES A RECOVERY

BY SNN.BZ CLUB WRITERS

Tragedy at Jet Set Nightclub: The Dominican Republic Mourns as Death Toll Reaches 221. Names of deceased who have been clearly identified are listed at the end of this article along with their corresponding ID Card numbers.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — On the night of April 8, 2025, what began as a vibrant celebration at the Jet Set nightclub turned into one of the deadliest disasters in the country’s history. At approximately 12:44 a.m., during a packed concert by legendary merengue singer Rubby Pérez, the roof of the iconic venue collapsed without warning, claiming at least 221 lives and leaving hundreds injured. As rescue efforts concluded on April 10, the Dominican Republic grapples with grief, and questions linger about the cause of the catastrophe.

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A Night of Revelry Turned to Horror

The Jet Set nightclub, a Santo Domingo institution since 1973, was renowned for its Monday night merengue parties, drawing a diverse crowd of locals, tourists, and prominent figures. On this fateful evening, an estimated 500 to 1,000 people filled the venue to hear Rubby Pérez, known as the “highest voice in merengue,” perform hits like Volvere and Enamorado de Ella. The 69-year-old singer, who had recently celebrated his birthday, was joined by his orchestra, including a saxophonist who would also perish in the collapse.

Among the attendees were bankers, politicians, athletes, and celebrities, reflecting the club’s status as a cultural hub. Tickets cost $32, and the event promised a night of music and dancing by the sea, just a block away. Video footage captured moments before the collapse: a concertgoer pointed to the ceiling, shouting that something had fallen, and Pérez himself glanced upward. Less than 30 seconds later, a deafening noise erupted, and the venue plunged into darkness.

Survivors described chaos and terror. Jenniré Mena, a Venezuelan celebrating her 40th birthday, was trapped under rubble with a friend. They held hands for hours, comforting each other until their rescue at 5 a.m. Tragically, another friend did not survive. Zulinka Pérez, the singer’s daughter, escaped but recounted her father’s desperate act of singing to guide rescuers to his location. Despite his efforts, Rubby Pérez’s body was recovered on Wednesday morning.

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A Devastating Toll

By Thursday, April 10, authorities confirmed 221 deaths, with 189 people rescued alive and over 150 hospitalized, many with severe injuries like skull fractures and crushed limbs. The Emergency Operations Center, led by Juan Manuel Méndez, reported that no survivors had been found since Tuesday afternoon, prompting a shift to recovery efforts. “We lifted all the rubble,” Méndez said tearfully, marking the end of a 53-hour operation involving over 300 Dominican responders, nine from Israel, and 12 from Puerto Rico.

The victims included a cross-section of Dominican society:

• Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, called President Luis Abinader from under the debris at 12:49 a.m., alerting him to the disaster. She was rescued but died en route to a hospital.
• Octavio Dotel, a former MLB pitcher who played for 13 teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he won a World Series in 2011, was pulled from the rubble but succumbed to his injuries.
• Tony Blanco, a former Washington Nationals player, was also among the deceased, confirmed by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Sports.
• Martín Polanco, a New York-based Dominican fashion designer, left behind a legacy in the industry.
• Eduardo Guarionex Estrella, son of Public Works Minister Eduardo Estrella, and his wife, Alexandra Grullon, perished, discovered as their father coordinated rescue efforts.
• Elizabeth Yesenia Pimentel Rosario, 39, and José Marino Pimentel Rosario, 37, siblings mourned by their sister María Pimentel Rosario, who pleaded for continued searches.
• Gustavo Noel Suero Mella, 37, was believed to be trapped under the stage, his cousin María Feliz Suero clinging to hope after hearing his voice in a survivor’s video.
• Yadhira Elaine Estévez Serrano, 42, was mourned by her cousin Kelvin Espinal, who spent days at the morgue awaiting her body.
• Milca Curiel, 61, a North Carolina resident visiting the Dominican Republic, remained missing, her friend Deysi Suriel searching hospitals in vain.
• Darlenys Batista, 22, whose godmother Massiel Cuevas waited outside the club, certain she was still alive.
• Fray Luis Rosario, owner of Terra Luna Cafe in Massachusetts, was another victim with ties to the diaspora.

The list also included a cardiologist, a retired police officer, a UN official, three employees of Grupo Popular (including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife), and an Army captain who left four young daughters.

A Nation Mobilized

The response was immediate and massive. President Luis Abinader, informed by Nelsy Cruz’s call, mobilized 22 public institutions, deploying firefighters, navy personnel, and heavy machinery like cranes and drones. First Lady Raquel Arbaje joined him at the site, consoling families. “We deeply regret this tragedy,” Abinader said, declaring three days of mourning, with flags at half-staff until April 11.

Rescue workers toiled under strain. One responder told reporters, “When people are trapped, you’re not feeling well mentally.” Sniffer dogs combed through concrete and steel, while families gathered outside, clutching photos and clothing descriptions to identify loved ones. A makeshift morgue and field hospital processed the grim toll, with 146 bodies identified by Thursday morning. Forensic teams worked around the clock, though 33 remained unidentified.

Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía called it “a terrible tragedy,” praising acts of community support, like a Dominican handing out coffee and a Costa Rican tourist joining the search. Health Minister Dr. Víctor Atallah noted most deaths were instantaneous, caused by head and chest trauma from the collapsing roof. Psychological aid was offered to families, many of whom faced critical injuries among survivors.

Grief and Tributes

The disaster reverberated beyond the Dominican Republic. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred mourned Dotel, Blanco, and Cruz, noting the “deep connection” between baseball and the nation. Players like Juan Soto and Pedro Martínez, who feared for family members in the club, shared condolences. Global stars Juan Luis Guerra, Daddy Yankee, and Marc Anthony expressed solidarity, with Anthony sending “a hug from a distance.”

International leaders, including Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, Cuba’s Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, offered condolences. U.S. Congress members María Elvira Salazar, Nydia Velázquez, and Adriano Espaillat, along with New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda, joined the outpouring.

Locally, the Espaillat family, owners of Jet Set, issued a statement of regret. Antonio Espaillat, a representative, said, “There are no words to express the pain this has caused.” The venue, originally a cinema, had been renovated in 2010 and 2015 but suffered a fire in 2023 after a lightning strike. Its capacity was 500, though far more were present.

A Search for Answers

As recovery ended, the site was handed to the National District Attorney’s Office, led by Rosalba Ramos, for investigation. A government commission will probe the cause, with early speculation focusing on the building’s age—over 50 years—and possible structural weaknesses. District Attorney Santana Snayder noted the majority of recovered bodies were female, complicating identification efforts.

Survivors like Nelsy Cruz, who raised the alarm, and Zulinka Pérez, who escaped, shared stories of resilience. Alex de Leon, searching for his ex-wife and mother of their two children, held hope despite no news. “My 15-year-old son is devastated,” he said, shielding his younger child with a lie that their mother was at work.

A Silent Capital

Santo Domingo, a city of 11 million, fell eerily quiet. Journalist Camila García described an unprecedented sadness: “I’ve never seen my country so quiet in my 34 years.” Traffic dwindled, and memorial services began, including for Nelsy Cruz in Monte Cristi. Rubby Pérez’s Instagram bore a tribute: “His music and legacy will live forever.”

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The Jet Set tragedy, dubbed the “worst non-atmospheric disaster” by official Tony Peña Guaba, has left an indelible mark. As families bury their loved ones and investigators seek answers, the Dominican Republic clings to faith and solidarity, mourning a night when music turned to silence.

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75 bodies not yet identified