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Memorial services were held on Thursday to honor Rubby Perez, a beloved merengue artist, along with many others who lost their lives when a cement roof collapsed at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic. The death toll has now reached 221 as rescue operations came to an end.
Grieving fans and family members clad in black and white flocked to Santo Domingo’s National Theater, where Perez’s body was placed in a closed casket. He was performing at the Jet Set Club during a packed show early Tuesday when the ceiling gave way, showering the audience with debris.
In attendance were President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje, who spent several moments beside Perez’s coffin. Many mourners were visibly overcome with emotion as a recording of Perez’s rendition of the national anthem reverberated throughout the theater.
Among the notable attendees was celebrated Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra, who also came to pay homage to Perez.
Perez, who was 69, turned to music after a car accident ended his aspirations of becoming a professional baseball player. He gained popularity for hits such as Volvere with Wilfrido Vargas’s orchestra and Buscando tus besos as a solo performer.
Investigation into the Collapse
Nearby the memorial, demolition equipment was seen withdrawing from the location that once housed Jet Set, as rescue crews began to dismantle their operations.
A team of prosecutors has since arrived at the site to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse. The cause remains unknown, with inquiries into the last inspection of the building still ongoing. The government is promising a full investigation, and the club’s proprietors have expressed their willingness to cooperate with authorities.
WATCH | Merengue star Rubby Perez among the victims:
Dominican ‘idol’ among nightclub victims mourned
As the memorial continued, Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, appeared visibly shaken while addressing the press. “Thank you, God, because today we accomplished the most difficult task I’ve had in 20 years,” he said, struggling to maintain his composure. Mendez expressed a plea for forgiveness before passing on the microphone to a military official.
Officials reported that 189 individuals were rescued from the debris, while over 200 sustained injuries, with 24 still hospitalized—eight of whom are in critical condition.
“When trauma is severe, the window for effective intervention narrows significantly,” explained Health Minister Victor Atallah. Medical professionals indicated that victims had suffered serious injuries, including fractures of the skull, femur, and pelvis.
Community Frustration
Many families remain in limbo, anxiously searching for news regarding their loved ones, and have expressed frustration over the slow dissemination of information from hospitals and forensics. As of Thursday, at least 146 bodies had been identified.
Maria Luisa Taveras, who was searching for her sister, voiced her despair. “We have gone everywhere they have directed us,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
Families are spread out among various hospitals and the National Institute of Forensic Pathology, with dozens congregating at the institute, demanding the release of their loved ones. Wendy Sosa, who has been waiting since Wednesday for the remains of her cousin, described the scene as “chaotic,” adding that the ambient odor was overwhelming as officials set up a refrigerated container to manage the influx of bodies.
“The smell is unbearable,” Sosa lamented, remembering her cousin Nilka Curiel Gonzalez as kind and empathetic.
A Community in Mourning
Among the victims identified so far are former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, and the governor of Montecristi province, Nelsy Cruz, who is related to renowned baseball player Nelson Cruz.
Dotel’s wake drew hundreds of attendees, including Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who acknowledged the immense love felt for Dotel. “The turnout for his wake speaks volumes about the man he was,” Ortiz stated. “This is truly heartbreaking.”
Pedro Martinez, another Hall of Famer, voiced his sorrow at a different wake, stating, “There are no words to express the grief that envelops us all. I knew over 50 of those who perished. Life is fragile.”
The tragedy also claimed the lives of a retired UN official, saxophonist Luis Solis, who was on stage when the disaster struck, and several others connected to various sectors, including fashion and public service.
A high percentage of the victims hailed from Haina, the hometown of Rubby Perez. In solidarity, the local governor organized a communal wake, with multiple stands set up for the coffins under a poignant banner: “Haina bids farewell to her beloved children with immense sorrow.”
Among those mourning was Juancho Guillen, who had previously lost his wife just three months prior, and now found himself grieving for his brother, sister, and brother-in-law. “This family is devastated,” he remarked. “We’re practically dead too.”
Source
www.cbc.ca