A roof collapse at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic has killed at least 184 people, authorities said late Wednesday, as emergency services prepared to move on from the rescue phase to recovery of bodies.

The tragedy occurred at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo on Tuesday and families of victims have gathered outside for over two days, anxious for more information.

“In the coming hours there will be a transition from a search and rescue phase to the recovery of the bodies phase,” presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa said in a statement. This was after having “exhausted all reasonable possibilities of finding more survivors,” local newspaper the Dominican Republic Post reported. 

Rescue workers have not found any survivors since Tuesday afternoon.

More than 300 rescue workers, with sniffer dogs, have spent nearly two days combing through mounds of fallen bricks, steel bars and tin sheets. They were supported by firefighters from Puerto Rico and Israel.

Officials struggle to identify victims

Relatives of people still missing held up pictures of their loved ones, describing the clothes they were wearing when the disaster struck. 

They hoped it would help others identify their loved ones in case of disfigurement. The National Institute of Forensic Pathology officials read the names of 54 victims they had identified so far.

Among the worst disasters in Dominican history

Local media has initially said that 500 to 1,000 people were in the club when the disaster happened. At least 200 were injured, according to official estimates.

The Jet Set club on Tuesday said it was working with authorities probing the disaster — one of the worst in Dominican history.

Authorities believe it is too early to assess the reason for the roof’s collapse. They are likely to begin the investigation phase after recovery is concluded.

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his sympathy with the families affected by the event.

The prime minister of neighboring  Haiti, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, similarly offered his condolences on X. Pope Francis also sent condolences. (DW)

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At least 98 people have died after the roof collapsed at a nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic, authorities said.

At least 160 people were injured, with crews searching for potential survivors in the rubble of the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations.

“We continue clearing debris and searching for people,” he said. “We’re going to search tirelessly for people.”

Rescue workers were prioritising three areas in the club, he said, adding: “We’re hearing some sounds.”

The cause of the roof collapse is not yet clear.

Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northern Montecristi province, is among those to have died.

Octavio Dotel, a former MLB pitcher who won a world championship with the St Louis Cardinals and played for 13 teams in a 15-year career, was also among the victims.

Dotel, 51, died en route to a local hospital after being pulled from the debris, a spokesman for the nation’s sports ministry said

Meanwhile, the injured include Dominican singer Rubby Perez, who was performing when the roof collapsed.

His manager Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight, with the roof collapsing almost an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.

Mr Paulino said: “It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner.”

He added that he initially thought there had been an earthquake.

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader wrote on X: “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred. All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”

Mr Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces.

He did not speak to reporters.

An official with a megaphone stood outside the club imploring the large crowd, which had gathered to search for friends and relatives, to give ambulances space.

“You have to cooperate with authorities… please,” he said.

“We are removing people.”

At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered around her and shouted out the names of their loved ones. (Sky News)

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