Tragedy in Santo Domingo: at least 200 dead in a disco roof collapse, 2 Italians among the victims

There would also be two Italians among the more than 200 people who died following the collapse of the roof of the famous Jet Set discotheque in Santo Domingo on the night between Monday and Tuesday. This was reported by LaPresse from informed sources while the official announcement by the local authorities is still lacking. It is said to be a Dominican woman with dual citizenship and a man. The discotheque was hosting a concert by the merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who is also dead.

Rubby Pérez, one of merengue's most recognised voices and author of hits such as 'Volveré' and 'Enamorado de Ella' was 69 years old: this was confirmed by his manager, Enrique Paulino.

The director of the emergency centre, Juan Manuel Méndez, said that rescue teams will 'tirelessly search for people' who may have been trapped in the rubble of the collapse in Santo Domingo.

The dead include the governor of the province of Montecristi, Nelsy Cruz - according to President Luis Abinader, who visited the area and declared three days of national mourning -, and former baseball players Octavio Dotel - who was pulled alive from the rubble and died during transport to hospital - and Tony Blanco Cabrera.

Pérez had initially been listed as missing: at first, the singer's family reported that he had been rescued and was injured, but it later emerged that this was not the case and the search for the artist continued.