Breaking | Tragedy in Dominican Republic after nightclub roof collapse leaves 13 dead, 70 injured

At least 13 people died and more than 70 were injured after a roof fell at a discotheque in the capital of the Dominican Republic early on Tuesday, authorities said.

Crews were searching for potential survivors in the rubble at Jet Set in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations.

“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” he said.

Among the injured is merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, officials said.

President Luis Abinader wrote on social media that all rescue agencies were “working tirelessly” to help those affected.

“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he wrote.