Singer Rubby Pérez dies as deaths near 100 in Dominican club tragedy

What began as a vibrant night of music and celebration at Santo Domingo’s iconic Jet Set nightclub ended in unthinkable tragedy.

As the ceiling of the packed venue caved in mid-performance, chaos erupted—burying dozens under rubble and silencing the very music that drew them in.

Now, the Dominican Republic mourns the loss of merengue legend Rubby Pérez, whose death has been confirmed by authorities, as the death toll rises to at least 98.

Pérez, 69, was performing to a full house when the unthinkable occurred.

Initially believed to have survived, the beloved singer was later found lifeless beneath the collapsed roof—his final moments now etched in the memories of those who managed to escape.

"It was like the whole world came crashing down," said one survivor, still shaking from the experience.

"We thought he’d made it. We were praying he had. But now, it’s just heartbreak."

Pérez’s death wasn’t the only high-profile casualty.

Former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco also perished in the disaster, along with Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province, who had been attending the event as a guest of honor.

Authorities are still combing through the wreckage in search of survivors, but hope is fading.

So far, 138 individuals have been rescued, many with serious injuries.

Rescue workers, volunteers, and military personnel have been working around the clock to clear debris and recover the bodies of the victims.

President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning, calling the collapse “a dark and painful chapter in our nation’s story.”

The cause of the structural failure is under investigation, but early reports suggest potential violations of building codes and improper recent renovations.

Jet Set, long hailed as a cornerstone of Dominican nightlife, is now cordoned off—its once-glowing sign now draped in mourning cloth.