The roof of a jet nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic collapses, killing dozens of them

Authorities said at least 58 people died and more than 150 were taken to hospital after a nightclub collapsed in the Dominican capital earlier on Tuesday. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, said staff were looking for potential survivors in the rubble of Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo.

“We think many of them are still alive, which is why the authorities here won’t give up until no one leaves that rubble behind,” he said.

He said the team is still working to determine the number of people at the scene at the time of the incident.

Emergency officials said a specialized canine family has been introduced to help search in critical, hard to reach areas.

It is not clear what caused the roof collapse.

President Luis Abinader wrote on social media that all rescue agencies are working “relatively” to help those affected.

“We deeply regret the tragedy that happened at Jet Set Nightclub. We have been following the events in a minute since it happened.”

Nelsy Cruz is the governor of Montecristi’s northwestern province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz. First lady Raquel Abraje told reporters she had called President Abinader at 12:49 a.m. and said she was trapped and the roof collapsed. Cruz later died in the hospital, officials said.

“It’s too big, it’s a tragedy,” Abraj said in an intermittent voice.

In a statement, Cruz’s family paid tribute to “her legacy of service and love to others.”

The Dominican Republic’s Professional Baseball League confirmed in a statement that retired Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel also died of a collapse. Dotel has played for more than a dozen teams throughout his career, including the New York Mets and Yankees, the Houston Astros, the Chicago White Sox, the Pittsburgh Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies and the Detroit Tigers.

Melenger singer Rubby Pérez was performing when the roof collapsed, and his daughter said he was trapped in the trap, according to AFP News.

Pérez’s manager Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was covered in blood, told reporters on the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight, killing the group’s saxophone player nearly an hour after the roof collapsed.

He said: “Suddenly. I thought it was an earthquake, so I threw myself on the ground and covered my head.”

He added: “We tried to get to the area where Rubby is, but there was too much debris there.”

Daugher Zulinka of Pérez later said she had confirmed that her father was “alive” despite being injured and still trapped.

Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some shedding tears.

He told reporters: “We have faith in God and we will save more people alive.”

At a hospital where the injured, an officer stood outside and read the survivor’s name aloud, and a group of people gathered around her and shouted the names of loved ones.

Manuel Olivo Ortiz’s son attended the concert but did not return home, and he was one of those waiting outside the club known for his traditional party performed by famous national and international artists on Monday.

“We only stick to God,” Olivo said.

Still waiting for the words is Massiel Cuevas, the 22-year-old Darlenys Batista.

“I’m waiting for her. She’s there, I know she’s there,” Kuvas firmly believed that she was sure Batista would be alive.

Contributed to this report.