2 former Major League Baseball players among the at least 99 dead in nightclub tragedy

A night intended for music and celebration turned into a scene of devastation early Tuesday morning in Santo Domingo when the roof of the renowned Jet Set nightclub suddenly collapsed. The catastrophic failure, occurring just before 1 a.m. during a merengue concert, claimed at least 98 lives and injured over 150 people, according to officials. The venue, a long-standing cornerstone of Dominican nightlife, had drawn a diverse crowd that included politicians, athletes, and local celebrities. The collapse sent concrete, metal, and debris falling on countless guests, burying many beneath the wreckage.

Merengue singer Rubby Pérez had just taken the stage when the tragedy struck, and his manager later confirmed that the singer was among the victims. As rescue crews meticulously combed through the debris, the death toll continued to rise, underscoring the scale of the disaster. Among those lost were two former Major League Baseball players. Octavio Dotel, 51—remembered for his record-setting career with 13 MLB teams and his contribution to the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2011 World Series victory—was recovered from the ruins but ultimately could not be saved. The Dominican Republic’s Professional Baseball League mourned his passing, paying tribute to the beloved athlete who had overcome personal hardships, including the early loss of his father during a robbery, with relentless determination. Dotel once remarked on his journey, expressing gratitude for divine guidance in sustaining him through life’s trials.

Also among the deceased was Tony Blanco, a former Washington Nationals infielder whose career later flourished in Japan and Mexico. Known for his powerful batting and quiet demeanor, Blanco’s death was confirmed by league spokesperson Satosky Terrero. The collapse also claimed the life of Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of MLB star Nelson Cruz. Just minutes before the incident, she had managed to call President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m., reporting that she was trapped under the fallen roof, though she later succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

Rescue operations were launched immediately and persisted throughout the day. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center for Emergency Operations, stated that crews were laboring around the clock—removing debris and listening intently for signs of life. Firefighters and emergency responders, employing everything from specialized equipment to sheer manual labor, worked tirelessly to extricate survivors. Even as midday approached, Méndez mentioned that sounds from beneath the rubble provided hope that more survivors might still be found.

At the scene, Enrique Paulino, manager of Rubby Pérez, offered a tearful statement, his face and clothing stained with blood. He recalled that the performance had commenced shortly before midnight and that the disastrous collapse occurred within the hour, taking the life of the band’s saxophonist among others. Video footage captured inside the nightclub showed guests enjoying the lively concert moments before the disaster—a recording in which a man near the stage points upward, commenting that “something fell,” followed quickly by Pérez’s startled reaction and the anguished cry of a woman exclaiming, “Dad, what’s happened to you?” A surviving band member later described the moment as surreal, initially mistaking the collapse for an earthquake, and noted how packed the venue had been that fateful night.

Authorities have since launched a full investigation into the tragedy, probing questions about the building’s last inspection and whether previous structural concerns had been overlooked or ignored. As the nation grieves the tremendous loss, the site remains cordoned off with ongoing emergency efforts, while families and the community gather in search of answers to this heartbreaking incident.