COE reports 218 deaths as rescue efforts continue

Santo Domingo.- Dominican authorities reported Thursday that the death toll from the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub roof in Santo Domingo has risen to 218, with 189 people rescued alive since the tragedy occurred early Tuesday morning during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who also died in the incident.

The government confirmed that search, rescue, and recovery operations remain active, with firefighters and technical personnel continuing their work under the coordination of the Emergency Operations Center (COE). Officials emphasized that the mission will not end until it is confirmed that no one remains under the rubble.

On Wednesday, authorities announced the start of a new phase focused on the recovery of bodies, following international emergency protocols. However, they clarified that this does not mark the end of operations in the area, but rather a continuation of rescue efforts alongside the beginning of investigations into the cause of the collapse. The exact number of people present in the nightclub, which can hold over a thousand, has yet to be determined.