Jet Set: The Tragedy That Silenced a Country

Santo Domingo.- Two months after the collapse of the iconic Jet Set nightclub, the country continues to seek answers. What began as a night of celebration ended in one of the worst civil tragedies in the recent history of the Dominican Republic: 236 people died and dozens were injured after the roof collapsed during a performance by merengue singer Rubby Pérez.

A Non-Stop Operation

More than 350 rescuers, including firefighters, Civil Defense, police, and volunteers, worked day and night for five continuous days. The search efforts were not only marked by the difficulty of the terrain, but also by the emotional weight of finding lifeless bodies among the rubble.

Delfin Antonio Rodriguez, Deputy Director of Operations for Civil Defense, recalled the moment they arrived at the scene:

“Some bodies had already been taken out by other people. They were shouting to us from inside: ‘they are asking for help over there!’ It was desperate.”

One of the moments that impacted him the most was the attempt to save a pregnant young woman who was trapped on the dance floor. Despite the efforts, she did not survive.

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The Invisible Aftermath

The psychological impact has also left deep marks among the rescuers. Kelvizon Cáceres, brigade chief, recounted that he still suffers from insomnia and constant memories of that night.

“I wake up thinking about what I saw. The first thing that comes to mind is the songs of Rubby Pérez and the face of a young woman who grabbed my foot and said: ‘Don't let me die’.”

Cáceres had tickets to attend the concert, a gift for his wife. He didn't go. A call at 1:20 a.m. led him directly to disaster.

Claims of justice

As of today, no responsible parties have been identified nor conclusive explanations provided. The National Office of Seismic Assessment and Infrastructure Vulnerability (ONESVIE) continues to evaluate the causes of the collapse. However, family members of the victims have filed lawsuits for negligence and demand clarity in the investigations. The lawyer Miguel Guerrero, representing a group of those affected, asserts that the lack of proper supervision and maintenance of the premises will be one of the key points in the courts.

“Victims not only deserve to be heard; they deserve justice. This cannot go unpunished”, he expressed.

A Marked Country

The tragedy of the Jet Set not only extinguished lights and music. It opened a wound that revealed structural failures, gaps in supervision, and the urgency of taking measures to guarantee the safety of public spaces.

Meanwhile, families mourn their loved ones and Dominican society continues to hope that this story will have, at least, a just closure.