A tragic incident occurred at a nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where the roof collapsed, resulting in the loss of 232 lives. The owner, Antonio Espaillat, revealed that the roof had been repaired just hours before the collapse. The nightclub, originally established by Espaillat’s mother 52 years ago, had recently relocated to a venue previously occupied by a movie theater before the tragic event.
Espaillat expressed his deep sorrow and willingness to take responsibility for the disaster, mentioning that the roof had been facing longstanding filtration issues that were temporarily fixed with plasterboard over the years. Despite recurrent incidents of plasterboard falling due to water leakage from the club’s air conditioning units, no inspections of the roof or water leakages were ever conducted.
The owner recounted how he learned about the collapse when his sister called him from beneath the debris, trapped alongside numerous concert attendees, including the renowned singer Rubby Pérez, who was among the casualties. Espaillat extended his heartfelt apologies to the victims’ families, acknowledging the devastation caused by the tragedy.
He detailed that the roof accommodated six air-conditioning units and three water tanks, with periodic waterproofing maintenance carried out every six to eight years, the latest being just a month before the collapse. The heavy sound equipment, known for the vibrant merengue parties at the Jet Set nightclub, was positioned on the floor.
In response to the incident, the Dominican government established a committee comprising local and international experts to investigate the collapse, which occurred while approximately 515 individuals were present at the venue. Following the disaster, rescue efforts led to the successful extraction of 189 survivors within 53 hours, with several others requiring hospitalization.
The absence of a government regulatory body overseeing private business establishments’ building inspections in the Dominican Republic has raised concerns. President Luis Abinader has hinted at forthcoming legislation to address this gap in oversight. Structural engineer Yamil Castillo emphasized the critical importance of promptly addressing water leaks in roofs to prevent structural complications, underscoring the potential risks associated with water infiltration into roof materials and the added weight from equipment like air conditioning units.
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