Officials in the Dominican Republic have updated the death toll from the devastating roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo to 184, as the search for survivors grows increasingly unlikely and the rescue operation shifts to recovery.
According to local media, quoting emergency operations director Juan Manuel Mendez, the confirmed death toll has reached at least 184, though he cautioned that this is a “preliminary figure.” Mendez assured the public in a news conference that “until we have combed through everything, we are not going to abandon anyone,” adding that the recovery efforts would continue until all victims, whether dead or alive, were accounted for. No survivors have been found under the rubble since Tuesday afternoon.
The nightclub, known for hosting prominent musicians, athletes, and government officials, was crowded when dust began falling from the ceiling and into drinks early Tuesday morning. Moments later, the roof collapsed, triggering chaos.
As the operation transitioned from rescue to recovery, more and more friends and family members gathered outside the Dominican Republic’s National Institute of Forensic Pathology, anxiously awaiting news about their loved ones. On Wednesday, officials revealed the names of 54 victims and confirmed that 28 bodies had been released to their families.
However, 33 bodies remain unidentified, and authorities have yet to complete a full count of all recovered remains.
Over 20 people remain hospitalized, with at least eight in critical condition, among the estimated 150 individuals injured in the collapse.
The cause of the ceiling’s failure is still unclear, though the nightclub has stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation. The Ministry of Public Works has referred all inquiries to the mayor’s office, which has not yet commented on the incident.
