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Rubby Pérez | The Jet Set Club roof collapse | Source: Instagram/rubbyperezoficial | X/DeyaniraGomezH
Rubby Pérez | The Jet Set Club roof collapse | Source: Instagram/rubbyperezoficial | X/DeyaniraGomezH

Roof Collapses at Jet Set Club: Video from Inside, Owners' Reaction, and What Is Known

Roshanak Hannani
Apr 10, 2025
10:43 A.M.

A night out at the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, ended in tragedy after its roof collapsed during merengue singer Rubby Pérez's performance.

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The incident, which occurred around 12:44 a.m. on Tuesday, has claimed the lives of more than 100 people, and there are dozens injured, according to authorities from the Emergency Operations Center.

Heartbreaking videos have been posted online showing the drama inside the venue after the fatal event occurred.

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About the Jet Set Club and What Its Owners Say

The Jet Set is a renowned nightclub in southern Santo Domingo that has operated since 1973. Its fame is due to its weekly "Jet Set Mondays" events, featuring local and international artists. The venue was renovated in 2010 and 2015, and in 2023, the establishment's roof was struck by lightning.

Following this recent disaster, the club's owners issued a statement assuring they were working "fully and transparently" with the authorities. Businessman Antonio Espaillat, owner of the Jet Set nightclub, addressed the victims' families and assured them that they would support those afflicted by the tragedy.

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Authorities must investigate the reason why the club's roof collapsed, turning the venue into the scene of a tragedy that has left the Dominican Republic in mourning, as well as everyone worldwide who has shown solidarity with what happened.

Images from a helicopter showed the enormous hole in the club's roof, now covered by debris. Dozens of people waited outside, checking lists of the injured and missing on makeshift boards.

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The Response of Rescuers and Authorities

About 370 rescuers worked through the early hours of Wednesday morning, removing debris with cranes and digging through remnants of concrete, steel, and sheet metal.

Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, stated, "As long as there is hope of life, all authorities will work to recover or rescue these people." President Luis Abinader confirmed the death of the governor of Monte Cristi, Nelsy M. Cruz, and declared three days of national mourning.

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Among the deceased are also former baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco. Dotel was rescued alive but later died from his injuries. The body of Rubby Pérez, who was on stage performing a concert that night, was also recovered.

The Roof Collapse Captured on Video and Heartbreaking Testimonies

Social media quickly filled with images from inside the club. Several videos from people enjoying the night at Jet Set recorded what happened.

Before the complete roof collapse, a person in the audience was recording Rubby's performance and said, "Someone fell, there was a fight, I don't know," then pointed with their finger towards the second floor of the club and commented, "Ah, something fell from above, see. Something fell from the ceiling up there (...) look at the people recording."

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Seconds later, the same recording showed how the roof came down, unleashing the tragedy; everything went dark, and a female voice expressed concern, "Wow, Carlos, what happened to you?" Then, she screamed desperately, "Dad! What happened to you?"

A second video posted by user Becky Reynoso on X showed a shocking scene and revealed the desperate screams of victims trapped in the rubble and what some survivors were saying while trying to help those trapped. A person recording the scene of terror after the roof fell said, "There are many dead down there," while a woman screamed with great anguish and amidst tears, "Mommy, mommy, mommy."

The same man recording the video inside the club told a man trapped under a concrete slab, "Wait, let's see if we can... This is very heavy, man," failing to free one of the victims.

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Many voices could be heard from under the debris in the footage, while some who managed to save their lives moved the few stones they could mobilize with their hands to help those trapped.

According to witnesses, the tragedy unfolded after a power outage while Rubby was singing on stage. His daughter, Zulinka, recounted that she managed to escape, but her father did not.

Iris Peña, one of the attendees, said that "dirt like dust started falling onto the drink that was on the table… a stone fell and cracked the table where we were, and we managed to get out. The impact was so strong, as if it had been a tsunami or an earthquake."

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Netizen Reactions

People on social media expressed their sadness, anguish, and shock over the tragedy. "Terrible. May God have them in his glory," one netizen wrote. Another said, "My God, how terrible!!!" Someone else added, "Lord, unbearable," upon seeing the videos of the tragedy.

Other netizens expressed their consternation upon seeing Reynoso's videos, with one writing, "This is so so [sic] sad 😭" and another posting, "What a huge tragedy."

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"That Dominican lady who screamed 'wow' sounds desperate," wrote one person in one of the shared posts showing the heartbreaking scene, while another internet user expressed, "The guy warning perhaps should have alerted security. I don't know."

These voices reflect the collective grief over one of the most tragic incidents in the recent history of the Dominican Republic. While investigations continue to clarify the causes of the collapse, the country remains in mourning for the lives lost in the nightclub collapse.

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It is worth noting that Rubby unknowingly saved his daughter from the tragedy but sealed his own fate.

Right before the roof suddenly collapsed, the singer was performing a show with his daughter Zulinka and other members of his orchestra. The incident shocked those present, and the atmosphere of music and celebration turned into dust, screams, and darkness in seconds.

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The Last Moment Shared on Stage

Before the collapse, Zulinka narrated that the audience asked her to perform the song "De color de Rosa," a piece she usually sings. However, she didn't feel up to doing it alone, so she turned to her father.

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She explained, "I told him, 'Daddy, I can't sing well because I just had surgery, help me,' and he told me, 'Stay at your microphone, and I'll go to mine.'"

During the performance, Rubby moved to stand in front of the microphone, where his daughter would have been if not for his decision. Zulinka finished her part, and at that moment, the roof collapsed.

"If I had been at my dad's microphone, I wouldn't be here now. When I sang my part, he was going to the second part. And then everything collapsed, it went dark," the young woman recounted through tears.

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They Were Desperate

Zulinka and her husband, who were backup singers for the merengue artist, managed to get out alive along with part of the team of musicians.

Amidst the collapse, her husband reacted quickly. "My husband threw himself on top of me and told me: 'Mommy, get out, so if everything collapses, the child isn't left alone,'" Zulinka recounted from the vicinity of the nightclub.

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Rubby, however, was not so lucky. Still, during the subsequent hours, she remained near the site, waiting for news about her father. "They won't let me get close, but as soon as they tell me where he is going, I will go," she affirmed.

The Official Confirmation of His Death

While the singer was still among the debris, his brother, Rafael Pérez, made public statements to stop rumors and confirm the family's uncertainty. "We only trust that God's grace will truly work a miracle," he expressed in a video. "We hope he is alive," he added.

However, more than 14 hours after the collapse, authorities notified the family that Rubby's body had been found lifeless among the nightclub's rubble.

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Journalist Alicia Ortega confirmed the news during a live broadcast of the Dominican newscast Noticias SIN, where she reported that the artist had already been identified and his family had been notified.

Shortly after his death became known, a video went viral on social media showing the exact moment Zulinka received the news. In the images, she is seen completely devastated, screaming in pain, and being held by others to prevent her from falling to the ground.

The National Emergency Attention System of the Dominican Republic reported receiving more than 100 alert calls from the site and activated an operation that included 77 ambulances and seven rescue cranes.

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The collapse of the Jet Set nightclub left an official toll that has now reached 113 dead and 250 injured, who were transferred to health centers. The event mobilized over 300 rescuers, including firefighters, Civil Defense, National Police, Armed Forces, and 911 emergency personnel.

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Messages from Followers

Rubby was a prominent figure in merengue, so after a night of celebration turned into tragedy, people couldn't help but react. One person highlighted the action of Rubby's son-in-law, who protected his wife in the face of the tragedy, commenting, "Father's love and sacrifice in the most difficult moment: 'Get out so the child isn't left alone'."

Another netizen applauded, "Like a true man [sic] the husband. 👏👏👏" One person was shocked by the circulating videos of the tragedy, adding, "A few seconds before, pieces started falling, and you can see some people looking up. 😢"

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Faced with the same scene, another blamed the artists, writing, "They noticed things were falling from the ceiling and continued with the music. How outrageous." "As soon as they saw something unusual, something falling from the ceiling, they should have left immediately. What a huge tragedy," added one Univision follower.

In a desperate message before the confirmation of his death, Zulinka said that her father was loved by many. "I hope in the Lord that he is okay," she continued in a choked voice.

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That wish could not be fulfilled. But her words, her tears, and her father's gesture of changing places with her on stage marked the final minutes of a life that ended up saving another.

After the Official Confirmation

The definitive confirmation of Rubby's death was made by his manager, Enrique Paulino, in statements to the AFP agency. "That's correct," he affirmed when asked about the artist's death. As he explained, the family was still deciding on the funeral details.

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During the rescue efforts, some witnesses claimed that Rubby might have tried to sing to be located, but these versions were not confirmed by authorities.

Rubby was 69 years old and considered one of the greatest merengue artists in Latin America. He began his career with Wilfrido Vargas before establishing himself as a soloist in the 1980s. His powerful voice earned him the nickname "The Highest Voice of Merengue."

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Born in Bajos de Haina, he initially dreamed of being a baseball player, but an accident in his youth cut that goal short. At 15, he was hit by a truck and suffered permanent injuries to his right leg. That turn in his life led him to study music at the National Conservatory and dedicate himself fully to singing.

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The news has caused shock in the Dominican Republic and the Latin American community abroad, where Rubby had a loyal fan base.

20 Shocking Photos of the Tragedy

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An aerial view of the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

An aerial view of the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Rescue teams work at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Rescue teams work at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Rescuers rushed to find survivors among the rubble of a Dominican Republic nightclub | Source: Getty Images

Rescuers rushed to find survivors among the rubble of a Dominican Republic nightclub | Source: Getty Images

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People check lists of victims from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

People check lists of victims from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Rescue teams work searching for people trapped after the roof collapse of the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Rescue teams work searching for people trapped after the roof collapse of the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Rescue teams evacuate a body from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Rescue teams evacuate a body from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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People request information about their loved ones outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

People request information about their loved ones outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Relatives of the victims wait outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Relatives of the victims wait outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Relatives of the victims wait outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Relatives of the victims wait outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Civil Defense members and firefighters transport an injured man after the roof collapse of the Jet Set nightclub, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Civil Defense members and firefighters transport an injured man after the roof collapse of the Jet Set nightclub, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Police officers stand guard outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Police officers stand guard outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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More than 100 people have died after the roof of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed early Tuesday morning | Source: Getty Images

More than 100 people have died after the roof of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed early Tuesday morning | Source: Getty Images

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Civil Defense personnel and firefighters remove debris from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Civil Defense personnel and firefighters remove debris from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Members of the National Police stand guard outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Members of the National Police stand guard outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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People request information about their loved ones outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

People request information about their loved ones outside the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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Civil defense personnel and firefighters work at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

Civil defense personnel and firefighters work at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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A man takes photos of the lists of victims from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

A man takes photos of the lists of victims from the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed in Santo Domingo on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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A crane removes debris after the roof collapse of the Jet Set nightclub, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

A crane removes debris after the roof collapse of the Jet Set nightclub, in Santo Domingo, on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

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