A devastating roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic has killed at least 124 people, including famous merengue singer Rubby Perez and MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco. The disaster occurred on April 8, 2025, during a performance, with rescuers continuing recovery efforts.
A devastating disaster struck a nightclub in the Dominican Republic, leaving at least 124 people dead after the roof collapsed early on April 8, 2025. Among the confirmed victims were well-known merengue singer Rubby Perez, 69, who was performing on stage when the roof gave way, and former Major League Baseball stars Octavio Dotel, 51, and Tony Blanco, 43.
Perez’s manager confirmed his death, while his daughter reported that she escaped, but her father did not. Dotel, a retired pitcher who won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, was rescued alive but succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Blanco died while attempting to save his friend Esteban German, who survived the incident despite being trapped.
The tragedy occurred around 12:44 AM, when a large crowd—estimated at 500 to 1,000 people—was inside the Jet Set nightclub. The roof collapse followed a blackout, causing chaos and trapping many. Rescuers worked tirelessly into the following day, recovering more bodies as the death toll continued to rise.
Among the deceased was Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi. Dominican President Luis Abinader declared three days of national mourning and visited the site to express his condolences. Authorities are continuing efforts to find any remaining survivors, but the focus is now shifting to recovery.
