Featured Image Credit: FRANCESCO SPOTORNO/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: World News, Health, Sport
Emily Brown
Topics: World News, Health, Sport
The roof of a nightclub which collapsed in the Dominican Republic has resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people, including two former Major League Baseball players.
Former athletes Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco were two of at least 300 people who were inside the Jet Set nightclub in the capital city of Santo Domingo when the roof of the building suddenly collapsed at around 1am local time on Tuesday morning (April 8).
The crowd was being entertained by merengue artist Rubby Pérez and his orchestra when the incident took place and prompted rescue workers to rush to the scene to begin searching through the rubble.
In an update on the incident today (April 9), Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, said at least 113 people, including Dotel, Blanco and performer Pérez, had died after the building collapsed.
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Dotel had been alive when he was rescued from the rubble, but he sadly died on his way to the hospital.
The Dominican Sports Ministry mourned the two players in the wake of the news, CNN reports, saying: “We share in their grief with their family, friends, and colleagues, and we offer our prayers for their eternal rest."
Another of the club-goers who lost their lives was determined to be Nelsy Cruz, governor of the Monte Cristi province. According to a statement released by MLB all-star Nelson Cruz, Nelsy was related to the athlete.
Of those who lost their lives, 33 are still yet to be identified.
A further 155 people were hospitalized as a result of the incident.
Méndez assured that rescue workers are still clearing debris and searching for survivors, adding that the son of Public Works Minister, Eduardo Estrella, is among those who are yet to have been found.
“We’re going to search tirelessly for people," he said.
Authorities are not yet clear on why the roof of the building collapsed, but images taken from overhead show a huge gaping hole in the ceiling of the building.
At least 22 different public institutions have come together to help respond to the incident.
Meanwhile, Dominican President Luis Abinade has declared three days of mourning.
In a statement shared on Twitter, Abinade said: "We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. All rescue agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”