The lives lost in the Dominican Republic nightclub tragedy: A governor, a merengue singer and a former MLB player

The eyes of Dominicans are more focused on the island today than ever before. Some repeatedly refresh their cell phones to check for any trace of their missing relatives, others visit the morgue, hoping not to find anyone they recognize. The Dominican Republic is mourning the fatal accident that occurred early Tuesday morning at the famous Jet Set nightclub, where the Merengazo has been held every Monday for half a century, a party that brings together the country’s wealthiest citizens and draws the biggest bachata and merengue bands. Rubby Pérez performed Monday night, but the renowned singer passed away Tuesday afternoon. Now, amid national mourning, no one can explain how the roof of one of the city’s iconic buildings could have collapsed.

Family members received information throughout the day in dribs and drabs. Much of it came through social media and videos of the more than 200 rescuers who responded to the emergency to help clear debris, rebuild shattered walls, and rescue those who had spent more than 12 hours buried under rubble after the collapse. But uncertainty gave way to grief for many Dominicans who recognized the names of their loved ones on the list of the deceased published by the government. As of mid-afternoon Tuesday, the National Institute of Forensic Pathology had identified 32 of the deceased from a toll of more than 100, which it is feared may rise further still.

Rubby Pérez, one of the most recognized voices in merengue; Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi, who had just become a grandmother for the first time; former Major League Baseball player Octavio Dotel; cardiologist Lourdes Ricart; and the president of the Haina Lions Club, Luis Emilio Guillén, who had brought 30 residents of that town to the capital, Santo Domingo, to enjoy the concert. These are some of the people who lost their lives in the tragic accident that has the country in suspense.

Rubby Pérez, merengue singer, 69

Minutes before the roof collapsed on partygoers, Rubby Pérez was happily singing merengue anthems with his band. Seeing several members of the audience filming the sand falling from the roof, he was surprised and pointed up with curiosity, as captured in some of the videos uploaded to social media. Minutes later, all the screens went black, and the screams of the victims could barely be heard. During the first 12 hours of the rescue, the medical teams and volunteers informed his daughter, Zulinka Pérez, that her father was alive and still singing “so they could locate him.” Hours later, his children, who had joined others in the area around the nightclub, lamented that rescuers had not yet recovered his body. At around 5 p.m., they were informed of the death of their father, a huge figure in merengue music.

He was regarded as having the most powerful voice in the genre and was a fixture both inside and outside the Dominican Republic. Born in Haina, a municipality known for its sugarcane heritage, he never forgot his roots, says Julio Arias, one of his best friends. “He came from a poor family, he started going to the music school by hitchhiking, and when they took him to the capital and he succeeded there, he kept coming back for Carnival,” he says over the phone, dismayed. On Wednesday, he had planned to meet his friend at his house, before Pérez was due to return to New York, where he spent much of his time. Arias remembers how they met: on one of his first tours in Amsterdam. “He made a bet and said: ‘I’m sure I’ll find a Haina native here on this tour.’ And he found two,” he says, before bursting into tears.

For Arias, the worst part of the situation isn’t the tragedy itself, but the shock. “I’m really angry about the way the nightclub is managing this. Why isn’t anyone asking what went wrong? And this isn’t the first time,” he says, referring to the fire that hit Jet Set in 2023. “No one talked about the repairs that were made. Since its owner owns media outlets...” he says, alluding to the Espaillat López family, one of the wealthiest in the country and managers of the RCC media group, which includes radio stations such as Los 40 principales and Zol 106.5FM. One of the last images of the merengue singer was at his youngest daughter’s 15th birthday celebration.

Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi, 41

Nelsy Cruz was pulled out alive from the rubble. From the moment the collapse occurred, according to the first lady, Raquel Arbaje Soni, Cruz called President Luis Abinader for help, but she went into cardiorespiratory arrest during surgery, as a result of blows to various parts of her body. The medical report is harrowing: “There was evidence of crushing trauma to the pelvic region, a large retroperitoneal hematoma, uterine artery injuries, several crushing injuries to the small intestine, and injuries to the fundus of the bladder and midrectum.” She died at 5:20 a.m.

The Dominican Republic’s Minister of Culture, Roberto Ángel Salcedo, expressed his condolences on social media for the passing of his beloved “friend and colleague.” “Her death is an irreparable loss for her community and the entire country. Nelsy was a committed public servant, a woman of firm leadership, and a staunch ally in initiatives aimed at strengthening our identity and development,” he said.

Two days before losing her life in the accident, Cruz had shared a message on social media celebrating the birth of her first grandchild. “Thank you, my God, for this beautiful gift! Today my heart is bursting with joy… I am now a grandmother! I welcome my first grandchild, little Nelson, a blessing that fills my life with love and hope,” wrote the official, sister of former baseball player Nelson Cruz. “I promise to love you, take care of you, and always be there for you, my beautiful prince.” The family announced that the governor’s remains will lie in state at the Provisional Governor’s Office in Montecristi from 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Octavio Dotel, former Major League Baseball player, 51

One of the first responders who arrived at the scene managed to rescue 51-year-old Octavio Dotel. The 2011 World Series champion was taken to the Central Hospital of the Armed Forces, where he arrived with no vital signs. The former pitcher was a friend of Rubby Pérez, whom he met through the latter’s brother, also a former MLB player, Neifi Pérez.

Born in Santo Domingo, he had a 15-year career in the Major Leagues, playing for 13 different teams, including memorable achievements such as his participation in a no-hitter with the Houston Astros in 2003 and his contribution to the St. Louis Cardinals’ title in 2011. After his retirement in 2013, he dedicated himself to community initiatives in the Dominican Republic, such as the founding of OD Gym for Kids, a space for children’s development in sports. The death of former baseball player Tony Blanco was also confirmed around 3:30 p.m. Former player Esteban Germán managed to get out at the time of the collapse, according to local media.

Luis Emilio Guillén Liranzo, customs businessman, 73

Luis Emilio Guillén Liranzo was one of the organizers of a reunion of more than 30 neighbors and friends from Haina, a municipality in the south of the country. Many of them, who lived in the United States or Santo Domingo, had marked April 7 on their calendars to attend the Rubby Pérez concert. So far, Liranzo is the only one listed among the deceased. For Darío Solano, a colleague, his is a “huge” loss: “Today a light goes out in Haina. A very important person with a deep commitment to belonging to Haina is gone. We have lost a great citizen.”

Solano also laments the uncertainty surrounding those who came to “dance and enjoy life” and who now nobody can locate, a group that called itself the Haineros Dorados. “It’s sad to know that we have to say goodbye to a great friend. May God place him in a privileged position,” he says. Liranzo, he says, will be remembered as a customs businessman, but above all as president of the Lions Club. “He did a lot for sports in Haina.” His wife is in critical condition. Solano also recalls that this is not the first incident at the nightclub. “No one dares to say it out loud at the moment, but it has to be investigated. Something must have happened.”

Lourdes Ricard, cardiologist

The Dominican Society of Cardiology is also in mourning. In an official statement, the society lamented this irreparable loss and emphasized the profound grief that overwhelms the family. “Today, the heart of our nation beats with pain.” Ricard was the wife of prestigious endocrinologist Yulino Castillo, who is still missing in the rubble. Castillo is the former president of the Dominican Society of Endocrinology and was recognized as the father of the field in the country.

Urologist Yadira Cueto remains unaccounted for. Pediatrician Sandra Perdomo, from the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital, “miraculously survived,” local media report, while her 19-year-old daughter, Eleanna Paola Vidal Perdomo, is still missing. Marlene Martínez, Castillo’s secretary, has yet to come to terms with what happened: “She was one of the greatest women fighters for me,” she said in a WhatsApp message sent to EL PAÍS. “I am grateful for having been able to meet her. May God protect her.”

Luis Solís, saxophonist, 61

“He was almost perfect. A pure heart, so noble, an exceptional person.” That’s how Yury described his father, Luis Solís, a saxophonist for Rubby Pérez who lost his life in the tragic collapse. His is one of the bodies that has been officially identified.

Solís, 61, had been working for many years alongside Pérez. Besides being a famous saxophonist, he was also a music teacher. The musician leaves behind a 29-year-old daughter and a 23-year-old son.

As the hours pass, comments from dozens of anguished Dominicans are flooding onto official government accounts. “Help me with Alba Marina Cabreja and Máximo Peña,” “Help me identify my brother, my sister-in-law, and my cousin. Their names are: Jonauri Sencion, Solanny Sosa (pregnant), and Ángel Ramírez Minyetty (Gerson).” The relatives of those who have already collected their deceased relatives are beginning to organize wakes and come to terms with a mourning that is nationwide.

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