Frustration and grief have gripped the Dominican Republic as families of the 222 people killed in a nightclub roof collapse await the identification of their loved ones. The tragedy struck on Tuesday morning when the roof of the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo caved in, trapping hundreds of people attending a performance by merengue singer Rubby Perez. The collapse left the nightclub in ruins, with twisted steel, zinc, and brick littering the site.
While Perez survived the disaster, the toll has been devastating, with at least 189 people pulled alive from the rubble. However, many families remain in a state of uncertainty, unable to begin the grieving process as they wait for the return of the bodies of their loved ones. At the forensic morgue in the capital, relatives have been camped out for days, searching for answers and praying for closure.
Health officials are working around the clock to identify the victims, with 191 autopsies completed by Friday. The government has vowed to ensure that all bodies are properly identified, despite the overwhelming challenge of managing such a large number of casualties. Many families, however, have faced additional distress, with some reporting cases of mistaken identities. One grieving father recounted receiving a body bag containing the wrong remains, adding to the anguish of an already difficult situation.
Among the victims were several foreign nationals, including a Haitian, an Italian, two French citizens, and “several” Americans, as reported by the U.S. State Department. The tragedy also claimed the lives of two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor.
In response, the government has extended the national mourning period by three days and formed a special commission of experts to investigate the cause of the disaster. As rescue operations concluded, authorities pledged to uncover the details of what led to the devastating collapse, which has shaken the nation to its core.
