A catastrophic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has led to nearly 200 fatalities.

According to CNN, at least 184 people, including former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, lost their lives when the roof of Santo Domingo's Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a packed performance early Tuesday morning.

The catastrophic incident occurred around 1 a.m. during a performance by merengue artist Rubby Pérez and his orchestra, with approximately 300 people inside the venue.

Emergency responders recovered Pérez's body Wednesday morning, adding to the growing toll of this devastating tragedy that has become one of the country's deadliest in decades.

Former MLB Stars Among Victims of Tragic Collapse

Dominican President Luis Abinader declared three days of mourning following the disaster. The collapse claimed the life of former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, who was rescued alive but died en route to the hospital.

His education academy, Colegio Sabiduría y Baluarte, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their founder. Another baseball veteran, Tony Blanco, also perished in the incident, as confirmed by MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred and the Dominican Sports Ministry.

The tragedy has touched many in the baseball community. Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez took to Instagram to share that some of his family members remain missing. The devastation has also claimed the life of Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and relative of MLB all-star Nelson Cruz.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that at least one U.S. citizen and several U.S. residents were among the casualties. The exact number of injured individuals remains unclear, though Emergency Operations Center director Juan Manuel Méndez reported that 145 people rescued on Tuesday were "alive."

Dramatic Moments Inside the Collapsing Structure

Survivor Jenniré Mena, who was celebrating her 40th birthday with two friends, shared her harrowing experience. She spent hours trapped beneath the rubble, holding hands with one friend while their other companion tragically lost their life.

After being rescued around 5 a.m., Mena reflected on her survival:

I'm grateful to be alive, feeling a lot of pain, but grateful to have the opportunity to feel this pain.

Footage from inside the venue captured the terrifying sequence of events. Video shows the band performing when someone near the stage notices falling debris. Moments later, pendant lights suspended from the ceiling begin to fall, followed by the entire roof structure. The recording ends with sounds of screaming and crashing.

Rescue Operations and Community Response

Emergency responders from 22 public institutions mobilized to the site. International assistance arrived from Israel, with nine rescue workers, and Puerto Rico, contributing 12 personnel.

Daniel Heredia, a member of the Dominican Civil Protection Service who leads a rescue team despite having a prosthetic leg, described the emotional toll of hearing trapped victims calling for help.

The Dominican Red Cross has been providing health and emotional support services to grieving families. Many desperate relatives were seen outside the destroyed venue on Wednesday, searching through lists at field hospitals and visiting multiple medical facilities seeking information about their loved ones.

Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía de Garrigó acknowledged the city was waking to "a terrible tragedy." The iconic Jet Set nightclub, known for its popular Monday night events, now bears a massive hole in its center where the audience had gathered for the performance.

Full Impact of Nightclub Disaster Remains Unknown

The complete toll of this catastrophic event continues to unfold in Santo Domingo. Emergency services ended rescue efforts Wednesday after recovering an additional 20 bodies from the rubble.

Many victims remain unidentified, and the exact number of missing persons has not been established by officials.

The cause of the roof's collapse remains under investigation. Aerial footage reveals extensive structural damage, with a wide, gaping hole in the middle of the building where concertgoers had gathered to enjoy the performance of beloved merengue artist Rubby Pérez, whose life was also claimed in this tragic incident.