The horror Dominican Republic nightclub collapse has seen its death toll rise to 184 as the hopes of finding survivors looks increasingly bleak. The ceiling collapsed during a concert at the famous Jet Set club in the Dominican Republic on Monday, as families waited for news of their loved ones outside the wreckage.
The government said last night that it was moving to a recovery phase focused on finding bodies. However, no one has been found alive since Tuesday afternoon. “We’re not going to abandon anyone. Our work will continue,” Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations, said.
Doctors warned that some of the patients who remained hospitalised were still not in the clear, especially the eight who were in critical condition. “If the trauma is too great, there’s not a lot of time left to save patients in that condition,” said Health Minister Dr. Víctor Atallah.
More than 200 were injured in the nightclub and had fractures in the pelvis, skull and femur after slabs of cement fell on those attending a merengue concert at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo.
Earlier in the day, National Institute of Forensic Pathology officials read the names of 54 victims they had identified so far. “We cannot wait until nighttime!” said one woman who was waiting for news of a relative whose name she did not hear. “We’re going to go crazy!”
Officials called for calm, saying they had already delivered at least 28 bodies to their families but did not yet have a tally of all the bodies recovered. “The authorities are selling us false dreams!” said distraught José Sánchez, whose brother and brother-in-law were still missing.
Tragically, officials said late Wednesday morning that they had not been able to identify at least 33 bodies. “This is a very traumatic situation,” said national lawmaker Pedro Martínez, who also has relatives missing.
Meanwhile, Randolfo Rijo Gómez, director of the country’s 911 system, said it received more than 100 calls, with several of those made by people buried under the rubble.
He noted that police arrived at the scene in 90 seconds, followed minutes later by first response units. In less than half an hour, 25 soldiers, seven fire brigades and 77 ambulances were activated, he said.
Crews used dogs and thermal cameras to search for victims, rescuing 145 survivors from the rubble, authorities said.
An investigation into the collapse is expected. Authorities have not released any preliminary findings or commented on what might have caused the roof to fall.
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