By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA and DÁNICA COTO, Related Press
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — At the very least 18 individuals died and greater than 120 had been injured when a roof fell at a nightclub within the capital of the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, authorities mentioned.
Crews had been looking for potential survivors within the rubble at Jet Set in Santo Domingo, mentioned Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Middle of Emergency Operations.
“We presume that lots of them are nonetheless alive, and that’s the reason the authorities right here is not going to hand over till not a single individual stays underneath that rubble,” he mentioned.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi, was among the many victims. In the meantime, the injured embody merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, officers mentioned.
His supervisor, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, advised reporters on the scene that the live performance started shortly earlier than midnight, with the roof collapsing virtually an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.
“It occurred so rapidly. I managed to throw myself right into a nook,” he mentioned, including that he initially thought it was an earthquake.
It wasn’t instantly clear what induced the roof to break down.
President Luis Abinader wrote on X that every one rescue companies are “working tirelessly” to assist these affected.
“We deeply remorse the tragedy that occurred on the Jet Set nightclub. We’ve got been following the incident minute by minute because it occurred,” he wrote.
Abinader arrived on the scene and hugged these in search of family and friends, some with tears streaming down their faces. He didn’t communicate to reporters.
An official with a megaphone stood exterior the membership imploring the big crowd that had gathered to seek for mates and family members to offer ambulances house.
“You need to cooperate with authorities, please,” he mentioned. “We’re eradicating individuals.”
At one hospital the place the injured had been taken, an official stood exterior studying aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered round her and yelled out the names of their family members.
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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