What began as a celebration of joy quickly turned out to be one of the deadliest building disasters in the history of the Dominican Republic.
On April 8, 2025, there were hundreds gathered at the world-famous Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo to party and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club with music, dance, and laughter.
But the night soon became one for the record books for a devastating reason.
As Rubby Pérez, the merengue star, sang, a man who was recording the scene inadvertently captured the beginning of the tragedy.
In the clip, he can be heard shouting, “Something fell from the ceiling,” as he points his finger to the ceiling. Barely 30 seconds later, a crashing sound overpowered the crowd — and the clip went black. A woman in the distance can be heard frantically screaming, “Dad, what’s happened to you?”
Survivors recall the terrifying moments before and after the collapse. Another is Rubby Pérez’s daughter, Zulinka Pérez.
She recounted how her life was saved by her husband, who stood heroically between her and the falling roof. “He said he told me that I had to live. That I had to be there for our son,” she recalled crying.
After the tragedy, Santo Domingo was transformed into a city of hysteria and mourning. Santo Domingo television showed heartbreaking images of people searching for family members.
There were numerous people standing idle near a field hospital near the site, scanning handwritten lists of names, waiting for good news. There were individuals who rushed from hospital to hospital, asking frantically for missing relatives.
The disaster killed at least 225 people and injured over 255. Among those who died were famous singer Rubby Pérez, former baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, Monte Cristi Governor Nelsy Cruz, New York City art dealer Elvira Malkic, and her husband Hakim Boubazine.
Octavio Dotel was pulled from the rubble but sadly died on his way to the hospital. Rubby Pérez, who had been one of music’s greatest legends for decades, was performing on stage when the building fell.
Emergency officials were quick to respond, leading a 53-hour rescue effort that saved 189 people. Puerto Rican and Israeli rescue teams assisted the Dominican authorities in the rescue effort.
The reason for the collapse is still under investigation, but it is said that the building, which was originally a cinema, has previously had structural repairs done and was even struck by lightning in 2023.
Antonio Espaillat, the Jet Set nightclub owner, was in shock and grief over the disaster. He said he was abroad when the tragedy occurred and pledged cooperation with the investigation.
The Dominican Republic President, Luis Abinader, declared three national mourning days. Flags were placed at half-mast, and a special tribute was paid in the Eduardo Brito National Theater to honor Rubby Pérez and all the other victims.
This deadly accident has seen the entire nation in mourning, and it has also brought very serious questions on building safety standards and enforcement in the country. The relatives are demanding answers and justice today, but most of all, they are mourning their precious loss.
