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

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.

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

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 roof of the establishment was struck by lightning.

Following the 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 that they would support those afflicted by the tragedy.

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.

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.

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.

Prior to the complete roof collapse, a person in the audience recording Rubby’s performance said, “Someone fell, there was a fight, I don’t know,” then points with their finger towards the second floor of the club and comments, “Ah, something fell from above, see. Something fell from the ceiling up there (…) look at the people recording.”

Moments Before the Collapse

Seconds later, the same recording captures the horrifying moment the roof gave way, plunging the nightclub into darkness and chaos. A female voice, filled with concern, is heard asking, “Wow, Carlos, what happened to you?” before desperately screaming, “Dad! What happened to you?”

Desperate Cries from the Rubble

A second video, shared by user Becky Reynoso on X, reveals the terrifying aftermath: victims’ desperate screams echo from beneath the rubble, while survivors scramble to help. A man filming the scene is heard saying, “There are many dead down there,” as a woman sobs uncontrollably, crying, “Mommy, mommy, mommy.”

Inside the club, another recording shows a man trying to help someone trapped under a concrete slab. “Wait, let’s see if we can… This is very heavy, man,” he says, ultimately unable to free the victim.

In the footage, voices of those trapped beneath the debris are heard calling out, while others—those who escaped—try to move debris with their bare hands to help.

How It Happened

According to witnesses, the tragedy began with a sudden power outage while iconic merengue singer Rubby was performing on stage. His daughter, Zulinka, who was also on stage, recounted that she managed to escape—her father did not.

Attendee Iris Peña recalled the eerie prelude to the collapse: “Dirt, like dust, started falling into the drinks on the table. Then a stone cracked the table where we were sitting. We managed to get out. The impact felt like a tsunami or an earthquake.”

Reactions Online

Social media was flooded with messages of sorrow and disbelief. “Terrible. May God have them in His glory,” one user wrote. Another commented, “My God, how terrible!!!” while others shared, “This is so, so sad 😭” and “What a huge tragedy.”

Reynoso’s videos sparked raw emotion online. “That Dominican lady who screamed ‘wow’ sounds desperate,” someone noted. Another user questioned the response, saying, “The guy warning perhaps should have alerted security.”

A Heroic Final Gesture

In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, Rubby unknowingly saved his daughter’s life just moments before the collapse. He had been performing alongside Zulinka and other members of his orchestra. As the crowd requested the song “De color de Rosa,” Zulinka hesitated, still recovering from surgery.

“I told him, ‘Daddy, I can’t sing well. Help me,’” she recalled. Rubby responded, “Stay at your microphone, and I’ll go to mine.” Moments later, while he stood at the mic that would have been hers, the roof collapsed.

“If I had been where he was, I wouldn’t be here now,” she said through tears.

Desperation and Loss

Zulinka and her husband—also a backup singer—managed to escape. “My husband threw himself over me and said, ‘Mommy, get out. If it collapses, the child won’t be left alone,’” she recounted.

Rubby was not as fortunate. As rescue efforts unfolded, Zulinka remained at the scene, hoping for any news. “They won’t let me get close, but as soon as they tell me where he is, I will go,” she said.

Tragic Confirmation

As hours passed with no word, Rubby’s brother Rafael Pérez spoke out: “We trust in God’s grace for a miracle. We hope he is alive.” Sadly, after more than 14 hours, authorities confirmed the singer’s death.

Journalist Alicia Ortega broke the news on live television, reporting that Rubby had been found and identified among the debris. Shortly after, a video showing the moment Zulinka received the news went viral—her anguish unmistakable as others held her from collapsing.

Scale of the Tragedy

The National Emergency Attention System reported over 100 alert calls, deploying 77 ambulances and seven rescue cranes. The collapse left 113 dead and 250 injured, mobilizing over 300 rescuers from emergency services, police, armed forces, and civil defense.

Public Mourning and Reflection

Rubby’s death struck a deep chord across the Dominican Republic and the wider Latin American community. A pillar of merengue, Rubby began his career with Wilfrido Vargas before rising to fame as a soloist in the 1980s. Known as “The Highest Voice of Merengue,” his voice and stage presence made him a beloved icon.

Born in Bajos de Haina, Rubby once aspired to be a baseball player until a tragic accident at 15 changed the course of his life. After being struck by a truck, he suffered permanent injuries to his right leg, which led him to pursue music at the National Conservatory.

As news of his passing spread, fans paid tribute. “A father’s love in the most difficult moment: ‘Get out so the child isn’t left alone,’” one person commented. Others praised Zulinka’s husband for his bravery, while some criticized the artists for continuing to perform despite warning signs.

A Final Goodbye

Rubby’s manager, Enrique Paulino, confirmed his death to AFP, stating that funeral arrangements were underway. Though unconfirmed, some rescue witnesses claimed Rubby may have tried to sing to signal his location beneath the rubble.

In the end, his legacy lives on—not only through his music but through a final act of love that spared his daughter’s life.

20 Shocking Photos of the Tragedy

1/20

2/20

3/20

4/20

5/20

6/20

7/20

8/20

9/20

10/20

11/20

12/20

13/20

14/20

15/20

16/20

17/20

18/20