The first lawsuit has been filed against the owners of the Jet Set nightclub over the disaster that killed at least 231 people in the Dominican Republic.

More than 400 people were inside the club in Santo Domingo for a merengue concert by 69-year-old singer Rubby Pérez, who was among the victims when the roof collapsed in the early hours of 8 April.

Interior minister Faride Raful told reporters that 189 people had been pulled alive from the rubble, while a dozen are still being treated in hospital.

It was the deadliest nightclub disaster in more than a decade – since 242 people died and over 600 injured at Kiss in southern Brazil in January 2013.

Now, the parents and widow of police lieutenant Virgilio Rafael Cruz Aponte, who died in the Jet Set club tragedy, are seeking manslaughter charges against the 52-year-old venue’s owner and managers, and are also pursuing a civil claim against the authorities.

“This tragedy is not only attributable to the owners and managers of the Jet Set nightclub… but also to Dominican state institutions”

“This tragedy is not only attributable to the owners and managers of the Jet Set nightclub… but also to Dominican state institutions,” reads the filing, as per France 24. “They failed to fulfil their legal duties of supervision, inspection, and authorisation of operations for establishments open to the public.

“The facts described here testify to a chain of structural negligence and security omissions, attributable not only to the managers [and] shareholders of the nightclub, but also to public institutions.

“These institutions, by failing in their duties of inspection, supervision, and control, violated their legal functions and fostered a dangerous environment that culminated in this avoidable tragedy.”

The nightclub’s owner Antonio Espaillat has said he is fully co-operating with the probe into the cause of the collapse.

Local and international experts have been drafted in as part of the investigation, which is is likely to take several months, according to the authorities.

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Investigators say it is still too early to determine the cause of the deadly roof collapse at Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic after the death toll from the tragedy reached 226.

Hundreds of people were in attendance at the 1,000-cap nightclub in the capital Santo Domingo for a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez at the time of the collapse in the early hours of 8 April.

Dust reportedly began falling from the ceiling and into people’s drinks moments before the entire roof collapsed. Pérez was killed in the incident, while other victims included ex-Major League Baseball (MLB) players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera and Montecristi governor Nelsy Cruz.

More than 200 people were also injured and 14 remain in hospital – four of them in a critical condition.

The government says that “all reasonable possibilities of finding more survivors” had been exhausted, with the focus of the operation now shifting to recovering bodies – a move it clarifies is “simply a reflection of technical criteria and does not signify in any way that the case is being closed or that attention to the tragedy will be reduced”.

According to district attorney Rosalba Ramos, the process has moved into the expert assessment phase, which will establish the cause before a legal investigation can be opened. ABC reports that a commission of experts is being created.

Authorities say that part of the Jet Set club, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary, was previously damaged in a 2023 fire.

A public memorial for Pérez, who was aged 69, was held on Thursday (10 April) at Santo Domingo’s Eduardo Brito National Theater and was attended by fans, fellow musicians and dignitaries.

The tragedy came just weeks after 61 people died in a fire during a concert by hip-hop duo DNK at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia.

It is the deadliest nightclub disaster in more than a decade – since 242 people died and over 600 injured at the Kiss nightclub in the city of Santa Maria southern Brazil in January 2013.

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The confirmed death toll from the Jet Set club roof collapse in the Dominican Republic has reached 184.

The victims included merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing at the 1,000-cap nightclub in Santo Domingo when the tragedy unfolded in the early hours of 8 April.

“It is with deep regret that we report the passing of our beloved Rubby Pérez,” says a post on the 69-year-old’s social media channels. “We sincerely appreciate all the love, support and solidarity we have received at this very difficult time to your family, friends and supporters. His musical and human legacy will live forever in our hearts.”

Hundreds of people were in attendance at the concert. AP reports that dust began falling from the ceiling and into people’s drinks moments before the entire roof collapsed.

More than 255 people were injured, according to the authorities, with rescue crews still searching for survivors among the debris.

“There are not enough words to express the pain caused by this event”

“As long as they report that there is a missing person, we will be here,” said emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez.

The cause of the tragedy is not yet known, with investigations currently ongoing. The 50-year-old venue stresses that it is collaborating “fully and transparently” with the authorities to clarify what happened.

“The loss of life leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay,” adds the club’s statement. “We have activated all possible mechanisms to provide support to those affected. There are not enough words to express the pain caused by this event. What happened has been devastating for everyone.”

A spokesperson says the club’s management remain in “constant communication” with the Emergency Operations Center (COE), while search and rescue efforts continue with emergency teams, volunteers, and staff from more than 22 institutions.

The tragedy comes just weeks after 60 people died in a fire during a concert by hip-hop duo DNK at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia.

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At least 98 people have died after a roof collapsed during a concert at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic.

The tragedy occurred at 12.45am this morning (8 April) at the 1,000-cap Jet Set Club in the capital Santo Domingo, where merengue singer Rubby Pérez was performing. The band’s saxophonist was among those killed.

More than 150 people were injured, with the emergency services still working to rescue survivors trapped under the debris.

“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the emergency operations centre.

“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner”

Méndez noted that ambulances had transported more than 100 casualties to hospitals in the area.

Pérez’s manager Enrique Paulino told reporters he initially thought the ceiling collapse was an earthquake, adding: “It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner.”

It is not yet known what caused the incident.

In a post on X, president Luis Abinader said: “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub.  “We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred. All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”

The tragedy comes less than a month after dozens of people died in a fire during a concert by hip-hop duo DNK at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia. The death toll from the blaze rose to 60 last week with the passing of a critically-injured burns victim. Thirty-four people remain in custody.

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