The owner of a Dominican Republic nightclub the place 232 individuals died following a roof collapse earlier this month has admitted that the constructing had been riddled with structural points for greater than a decade, and that plasterboard was used on a number of events to make repairs.
On Wednesday, in his first interview because the April 8 catastrophe, Antonio Espaillat, the supervisor and owner of the plagued Jet Set nightclub within the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, informed native TV station Telesistema that plasterboard had been added to the roof hours earlier than it caved in.
In accordance with The Related Press, he famous that plasterboard had fallen repeatedly by means of the years, together with when water filtered by means of the membership’s air-con models. Espaillat confirmed nobody ever inspected the roof or water filtration techniques.
He informed reporters there have been six air-con models on the roof, plus three water tanks, and that an electrical generator was put in in an adjoining room, not on the roof.
Each six to eight years, a specialised crew would waterproof the roof, with the final waterproofing finished a couple of month earlier than the collapse, he defined.
“We at all times purchased plasterboard. All the time,” he continued.
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Espaillat first discovered of the tragedy when his sister referred to as him whereas trapped within the particles alongside tons of of different individuals who have been attending a live performance by merengue musician Rubby Pérez, who was amongst these killed.
He was in Las Vegas attending a conference when he acquired the information.
“To the households of the victims, I wish to say I’m sorry. I’m very sorry,” Espaillat stated. “I’m destroyed,” he continued, including that if he might have prevented the collapse, he would have finished every part in his energy to take action.
“There was no warning, nothing. We have been all stunned,” he stated.
Espaillat didn’t attend the scene throughout rescue efforts over issues for his security as offended crowds had gathered on the website.
A girl argues with Forensic National Institute morgue staff concerning delays in info following a roof collapse on the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo earlier this month.
MARTIN BERNETTI / Getty Pictures
The membership, which was based 52 years in the past by Espaillat’s mom, Ana Grecia López, when he was simply six years outdated, had turn out to be a pillar of the town’s nightlife, and remained in the identical location for 3 a long time earlier than it collapsed this month with about 515 individuals inside, the owner stated.
Buddies and family collect exterior the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo on April 12, 2025, to pay tribute to the victims who died when the constructing’s roof collapsed earlier this month.
EDDY VITTINI / Getty Pictures
Within the 53 hours following the catastrophe, rescue crews discovered 189 survivors. Dozens of others have been hospitalized.
The victims included seven medical doctors, a retired United Nations official, former MLB gamers Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of seven-time Main League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, the AP reported.
Not less than three lawsuits have been filed towards the homeowners, the Dominican authorities, and the Santo Domingo mayor’s workplace.
The plaintiffs are searching for unspecified damages from all and a prison conviction for involuntary manslaughter towards the homeowners.
Espaillat stated he has barely slept within the weeks because the roof caved in and that he has been in contact with the households of his staff and among the victims.
“I’m going to face every part,” he stated. “I’m not going wherever.”
For the reason that catastrophe, questions have been raised in regards to the security of buildings throughout Santo Domingo and the remainder of the nation. The Dominican authorities has created an professional job power devoted to investigating the reason for the incident.
There’s presently no authorities company devoted to inspecting the buildings of personal companies within the Dominican Republic, though President Luis Abinader introduced final week that new laws is predicted to alter that.
— With information from the Related Press
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