On April 8, 2025, a devastating roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, resulted in the deaths of at least 184 individuals and injured over 255 others. The incident occurred during a live performance by renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was among those killed. Bless You Boys+3Wikipedia+3New York Post+3Bless You Boys+5The Sun+5Wikipedia+5
Among the notable victims were former Major League Baseball (MLB) players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco. Dotel, aged 51, was initially rescued from the debris but succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention. His MLB career spanned 15 seasons across 13 teams, including the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he won a World Series in 2011. The Sun+5Wikipedia+5Reuters+5SRN News+1Bless You Boys+1Diario AS
Tony Blanco, aged 43, tragically lost his life while heroically saving his friend, Esteban Germán, during the collapse. Blanco played for the Washington Nationals in 2005 before continuing his career in Japan and retiring in 2016. New York Post+2The Sun+2Wikipedia+2
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, was also among the deceased. She had contacted President Luis Abinader shortly after the collapse, reporting that she was trapped; she later died from her injuries. Bless You Boys+5Wikipedia+5SRN News+5SRN News+1Wikipedia+1
The collapse occurred around 12:44 a.m. AST, with between 500 and 1,000 people inside the club at the time. Eyewitnesses reported that the roof gave way without warning approximately an hour into the performance. The cause of the structural failure remains under investigation. Wikipedia
In response to the tragedy, President Abinader declared a three-day national period of mourning from April 8 to 10, with national flags flown at half-mast. The Senate of the Dominican Republic suspended sessions and committee activities, expressing deep regret over the disaster. Wikipedia
The international community has extended condolences, with figures such as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing their sympathies. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also released a statement mourning the loss of Dotel, Blanco, and Cruz. Diario AS+5Bless You Boys+5The Sun+5
Rescue operations involved over 400 responders, including teams from Israel, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Efforts continued for days to locate survivors and recover bodies from the rubble. Wikipedia
This tragic event has deeply impacted the Dominican Republic and the global community, prompting widespread mourning and reflections on the lives lost.
