The owner of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic has admitted that the building had serious structural problems for over a decade. This admission comes after a tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo on April 8, which resulted in the deaths of 232 people.
Antonio Espaillat, the owner and manager of the nightclub, spoke on local television about the incident. He revealed that plasterboard repairs had been made to the roof just hours before it caved in. He acknowledged that the roof had been patched multiple times over the years, often due to water leaks from the club’s air conditioning units. Despite these ongoing issues, he confirmed that no inspections of the roof or the water systems had ever taken place.
Espaillat explained that there were six air conditioning units and three water tanks on the roof. He mentioned that a specialized crew would waterproof the roof every six to eight years, with the last job done only a month before the collapse. “We always bought plasterboard. Always,” he said, emphasizing the club’s reliance on this material for repairs.
The collapse occurred during a concert by merengue musician Rubby Pérez, who was among those killed. Espaillat was in Las Vegas at the time and learned about the disaster from his sister, who was trapped under the debris. “To the families of the victims, I want to say I’m sorry. I’m very sorry,” he expressed, adding that he would have done anything to prevent the tragedy.
Rescue efforts lasted for 53 hours, during which crews managed to find 189 survivors. Unfortunately, many others were hospitalized, and the victims included several prominent figures, such as doctors and former baseball players. Since the incident, at least three lawsuits have been filed against the nightclub’s owners and local government officials, seeking damages and criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter.
Espaillat has been in contact with the families of both his employees and the victims. He said he has hardly slept since the collapse and is determined to face the consequences. “I’m not going anywhere,” he stated.
The disaster has raised serious concerns about building safety in Santo Domingo and across the Dominican Republic. Currently, there is no government agency responsible for inspecting private businesses, but President Luis Abinader has announced plans for new legislation to address this issue. An expert task force has been created to investigate the cause of the collapse, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety standards in the country.