Santo Domingo – In the early hours of Tuesday morning, joy turned to despair at Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo as a catastrophic ceiling collapse resulted in the loss of over 221 lives, with many others injured. One survivor, Carwin Javie Molleja, described the chaotic moments leading up to the disaster as he and his mother celebrated their long-awaited reunion after three years apart.
Tragedy Strikes as Ceiling Collapses at Santo Domingo Nightclub, Resulting in Devastating Loss of Life
Tragedy Strikes as Ceiling Collapses at Santo Domingo Nightclub, Resulting in Devastating Loss of Life
A party turns to horror in Santo Domingo as a nightclub ceiling collapse claims over 221 lives, leaving survivors in shock and mourning.
At around 1:00 AM, Carwin, a 32-year-old percussionist, was dancing with his mother, Carmin, when he felt something fall from the ceiling. "No-one thought that a small stone falling could lead to the entire roof collapsing," he reflected.
What was meant to be a joyful evening with friends quickly descended into panic. "I can still hear the screams, the sound of the ceiling crashing down, and my mother calling for me," Carwin recounted, noting instinctively he hugged his mother tightly as chaos erupted around them.
Both he and Carmin sustained minor injuries, narrowly escaping the disaster that claimed the lives of many, including the popular musician Rubby Pérez. In the aftermath of the collapse, Carwin’s frantic search for his friends only heightened his sense of despair as he struggled to call for them amidst the chaos.
“The stones were enormous. I felt utterly powerless in that situation,” he lamented, recalling a scene filled with frantic attempts to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble. While emergency services arrived promptly, Carwin noted a troubling absence of heavy machinery to aid in the recovery efforts.
Devastated by the loss of his friend Jessica and her sister, whose bodies were later recovered from the scene, Carwin expressed deep sorrow over not being able to save them. “It’s unbearable not to be able to do anything,” he said, emphasizing the weight of regret that came with the night’s tragic events.
As the community grapples with the enormity of this loss, the tragedy at Jet Set nightclub serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of disaster on individuals and the wider society.
What was meant to be a joyful evening with friends quickly descended into panic. "I can still hear the screams, the sound of the ceiling crashing down, and my mother calling for me," Carwin recounted, noting instinctively he hugged his mother tightly as chaos erupted around them.
Both he and Carmin sustained minor injuries, narrowly escaping the disaster that claimed the lives of many, including the popular musician Rubby Pérez. In the aftermath of the collapse, Carwin’s frantic search for his friends only heightened his sense of despair as he struggled to call for them amidst the chaos.
“The stones were enormous. I felt utterly powerless in that situation,” he lamented, recalling a scene filled with frantic attempts to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble. While emergency services arrived promptly, Carwin noted a troubling absence of heavy machinery to aid in the recovery efforts.
Devastated by the loss of his friend Jessica and her sister, whose bodies were later recovered from the scene, Carwin expressed deep sorrow over not being able to save them. “It’s unbearable not to be able to do anything,” he said, emphasizing the weight of regret that came with the night’s tragic events.
As the community grapples with the enormity of this loss, the tragedy at Jet Set nightclub serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of disaster on individuals and the wider society.
