WORLD Series champion Octavio Dotel has died after he was pulled from the rubble of the Dominican Republic nightclub collapse.
At least 44 people are dead and 160 others injured after the roof of club Jet Set collapsed in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday morning.
Over 300 people, including politicians, athletes, and fans, were inside the venue in Santo Domingo watching merengue artist Rubby Pérez perform when the ceiling caved in at around 1 am local time.
Pérez had been playing for about an hour when the roof came crashing down.
Dotel, 51, was pulled from the rubble alive but died on the way to the hospital, according to MLB insider Héctor Gómez.
He was reportedly stuck under the collapsed ceiling for hours.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of former MLB player Nelson Cruz, was among the 44 killed, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said.
She called the president at 12:49 am to tell him she was trapped after the roof collapsed and then later died at the hospital.
Singer Pérez was injured in the chaos and his saxophonist was killed, according to Pérez’s manager Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was splattered with blood when he spoke to reporters at the scene.
“It happened so quickly,” said Paulino, adding that he initially thought he was experiencing an earthquake.
“I managed to throw myself into a corner.”
Former MLB player Esteban Germán narrowly avoided the tragedy as he left the performance minutes before.
Germán posted a video of Pérez on stage to his Instagram Story before sharing a message about the tragedy just an hour later.
“I’m fine thanks to God,” the former Oakland A’s second baseman wrote, adding that he was trying to help at the scene.
Germán said moments before the ceiling collapsed, former MLB player Tony Blanco pushed him out of the way of danger.
Blanco, 43, did not survive the collapse.
It was previously mistakenly reported that Henry Blanco, another MLB player, was at the nightclub during the tragedy, but he was confirmed to be in the US at the time.
LEGENDARY PITCHER
Dotel, a major league pitcher, shared pictures and videos on his Instagram Story hours before the ceiling fell.
The MLB legend, a native of Santo Domingo, played in the majors from 1999 to 2013.
He won a World Series ring while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.
Dotel is survived by his wife, Massiel, and their two children.
GRUELING SEARCH
Twelve hours after the collapse, rescue workers continued to search for survivors trapped under debris.
“That is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations.
Dad Manuel Olivo Ortiz stood outside the club searching for his son, who attended the concert but never came home.
“We’re holding on only to God,” Olivo told The Associated Press.
It’s not clear what caused the roof to collapse.
The club said it was cooperating with the investigation and added in a statement, “The loss of human life leaves us in a state of deep pain and dismay.”
Abinader, meanwhile, said authorities were working around the clock in rescue efforts.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub,” the president said.
“We have been following the case minute by minute since it happened.
“All rescue agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts.
“Our prayers are with the affected families.”
Here’s what to know about the collapse:
- Merengue singer Rubby Pérez was performing on stage to at least 300 people at the time.
- Over 100 people have been rescued alive.
- At least 27 people have died.
- 56 ambulances responded to the scene and transported at least 121 survivors to local hospitals.
- Search and rescue teams have said they will continue working until every missing person has been accounted for.
NIGHTCLUB NIGHTMARES
The collapse of the Jet Set nightclub is one of several shocking club disasters over the past couple of years.
In March, a nightclub in North Macedonia erupted into flames, leaving 59 dead and 155 others injured.
The tragic fire reportedly happened after pyrotechnics lit up the packed club.
State Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski revealed that the club had a severe lack of fire safety protocols as it was covered in flammable materials with no hydrant network and a seemingly extreme lack of fire extinguishers.
The fire exit was reportedly padlocked and with no handle on the inside.
In Majorca, four people died and 16 were injured when a nightclub collapsed in May 2024.
Neighbors of the Medusa Beach Club in Playa de Palma heard the victims’ screams as they were crushed by the nightclub.
“There have been two previous instances of collapses at buildings in other parts of this area,” Alain Carbonell, president of the S’Arenal Neighborhood’s Residents Association in Majorca said.
“This was completely foreseeable and the worst thing about it is that it will happen again. We are afraid it will occur again.”
