221 Dead, 189 rescued in Jet Set Collapse!
Santo Domingo, Apr 10 (EFE).-
The death toll from a roof collapse at Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub has climbed to 221, while 189 people were rescued, Dominican authorities reported Thursday.
In the latest official statement, the government said that search, rescue and recovery work was still underway under the coordination of the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
On Wednesday, the government reported that the operations had transitioned from a search and rescue phase to a body recovery phase, in accordance with the internationally established protocol for the management of this type of emergency.
However, COE chief Juan Manuel Mendez had said at a press conference that rescue teams would remain at the scene until there was a single person searching for a missing family member.
The tragedy occurred during a party on Tuesday morning while renowned merengue singer Rubby Perez was performing.
The singer’s body was recovered from the rubble on Wednesday. His funeral will be held on Thursday, the ministry of culture announced.
Also killed in the collapse were former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, as well as fashion designer Martín Polanco and the governor of Montecristi province, Delsy Cruz.
The government declared three days of national mourning between Apr.8-10, during which public festive activities will be suspended and the flag will be flown at half-mast, even on public buildings.
Several governments have expressed their solidarity with their Dominican counterparts and with the people of the Caribbean country. EFE
