Speaking out about the “devastating” incident, the owner of the well-known nightclub in the Dominican Republic that collapsed and killed 221 partygoers has promised to “stand by” the victims’ loved ones and “live up to [their] pain.”
The best in Latin music, from merengue luminaries to up-and-coming bachata singers, have performed at Jet Set nightclub since its opening in 1973 by restauranteur and radio tycoon Antonio Espaillat.
According to accounts, the well-known club in the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santo Domingo, was once the “most popular venue of its kind in the Dominican Republic.”
2010 and 2015 saw renovations to the disco.
Then, according to a local newspaper, the nightclub suffered some misfortune in 2013 after being struck by lightning and “a fire devastated the entertainment center, damaging its facilities.”
However, it was a mild lightning strike.
Pérez Rubby
Rubby Pérez, a well-known meringue singer, performed some of his catchy songs for Jet Set Mondays on April 8 in front of hundreds of people.
Reports state that the 69-year-old, who was born in the DR, was the evening’s main attraction, drawing admirers from as far away as North Carolina.
However, in a video footage from that night that was sent to the BBC, a partygoer claimed that “something fell from the ceiling” at around one in the morning.
Screams are heard and individuals are spotted running around less than 30 seconds later.
The video then cuts to black as Pérez sings the last words of his life.
The nation laments
The roof collapsed, trapping hundreds of people beneath the heavy rubble, turning the once-bustling nightclub into a cemetery.
Heartbroken family members and friends arrived in the hopes that their loved ones would be saved, and workers worked nonstop for the following few days looking for survivors.
“The nation is in mourning. The head of the emergency operations center, Juan Manuel Méndez, began crying after declaring on April 10 that rescue operations were complete. “The Dominican family mourns,” he stated.
“Packed with powerlessness”
The official, who was crying, stated, “Today we finished the most difficult task that I have had in 20 years heading the operations center.” “I beg for your forgiveness, as each time someone reported a missing family member, we felt powerless because we couldn’t get in touch with them and they were still trapped.”
Méndez later told the New York Times over the phone that “not a single body remains there.” We swept the whole place.
According to reports, 221 people lost their lives in one of the greatest catastrophes to strike the nation in decades.
However, the NY Times reports that 189 lives were saved in spite of the numerous fatalities.
Well-known victims
Pérez, former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, the latter of whom valiantly lost his life defending his close friend, former MLB player Esteban Germán, are among those slain.
A former U.N. official, fashion designer Martín Polanco of New York, an Army captain who abandoned four young girls, and three workers at Grupo Popular, a financial services firm that includes the president of AFP Popular Bank and his spouse, are among the other victims, according to the AP.
“Express your suffering.”
Espaillat posted a touching letter on Instagram, expressing his real “anguish,” in an attempt to reach out to those affected by the terrible event at his nightclub.
“Words cannot describe the suffering this incident has caused. Everyone has been devastated by what transpired. In the Spanish-translated video, he stated, “We want you to know that we are with you and that we share your anguish.”
He went on, “We have been working with the authorities in full and open cooperation from the beginning. As search and rescue operations continue with emergency personnel, volunteers, and employees from over 22 institutions, we stay in close contact with the Emergency Operations Center (COE).He vowed that the team would “stand by you” and addressed the moms, fathers, siblings, kids, and loved ones of those impacted.
“Everything we do now, every decision, every step has one purpose: to live up to your pain and be with you,” the president of RCC Media, the second-largest broadcaster in the DR, subsequently pledged.
“We are a family now more than ever before. I’m grateful,” he continued.
In order for us to all convey a great deal of love to those who are suffering and recovering from the horrible event, please leave your condolences for the victims’ loved ones in the space provided below and then share this story.
