At least 98 people have been killed and more than 150 injured after a roof collapsed at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo. According to local authorities, former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco were among the victims. International media reports say the 51-year-old died on the way to the hospital.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at a concert by the famous merengue singer Rubby Pérez at the Jet Set nightclub. He was reported to be among those trapped in the rubble, A2 CNN reports.
Hundreds of people were trapped inside the country and around 400 rescuers are still searching for survivors. There are fears the death toll will rise further.
Also among the victims was Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province, President Luis Abinader said. She was the sister of former baseball player Nelson Cruz.
At least 300 people were inside the Jet Set nightclub in the capital of Santo Domingo when the roof collapsed around 1 a.m. during a performance by merengue artist Rubby Pérez and his orchestra, authorities said. The cause of the collapse is not yet known, A2 CNN reports.
Families of the missing gathered at the scene and shared photos of their loved ones Tuesday morning, as dozens of ambulances rushed the injured to hospital.
Abinader has declared three days of mourning following the disaster. He went to the nightclub on Tuesday morning with his wife, First Lady Raquel Arbaje, to express his condolences for the victims. (A2 Televizion)
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