The death toll after a nightclub ceiling collapsed in the Dominican Republic has increased to 113 as search for survivors continues.
At least 113 people are confirmed to have died after the roof of the Jet Set club collapsed during a concert early on Tuesday.
Over 255 people were injured by falling concrete slabs at the venue in Santo Domingo.
The venue had been packed out with musicians, professional athletes and government officials.
The victims include merengue music star Rubby Perez, who had been singing to the crowd before the disaster struck, said emergency operations director Juan Manuel Mendez.
Read also: https://www.tvcnews.tv/dominican-republic-at-least-98-dead-after-roof-caves-in-at-nightclub/
Rescue crews are still searching for potential survivors, more than 24 hours after the collapse.
So far, only 32 people have been identified.
Those identified include a cardiologist, a government architect, a retired police officer and the brother of the vice minister of the Ministry of Youth, according to local media.
Also killed was Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Octavio Dotel and Dominican player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, according to Satosky Terrero, spokesman for the country’s Professional Baseball League.
Nelsy Cruz, governor of the north-western province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, alerted President Luis Abinader about the disaster.
Dozens of frantic relatives crowded at the country’s National Institute of Forensic Pathology, scanning a list of the victim’s names, while others went from hospital to hospital looking for their loved ones, some clutching pictures of them.
It was not immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse or when the building was last inspected.
The club issued a statement saying it was co-operating with authorities.
