Early in the morning on April 8, the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, collapsed.
About an hour after merengue singer Rubby Pérez began performing, the roof of the club caved in, and the latest reporting from the Associated Press says at least 124 people have died. Pérez, former MLB player Octavio Dotel and former Red Sox prospect Tony Blanco are among them. One hundred fifty others have been injured in the accident.
Red Sox legend and Dominican native Pedro Martinez has also revealed a connection to the tragedy. The pitcher shared that he has family members who were at the club at the time of the collapse and they still have not been found. It is unclear which members of Martinez's family are missing.
Martinez posted videos on Instagram in English and Spanish wishing condolences to families and friends affected by the events.
"I just want to say that our hearts are with you and we all are affected," Martinez said. "I still have family members that are still in the rubbles and we don't know what happened to them. But we just want to be strong, like we have always been. We are a country that prays a lot and remains united all the time, so I just hope that everybody has the same courage."
Former Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez still has family members missing after Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo
#VideoLD | El pelotero dominicano Pedro Martínez, tras tragedia de Jet Set, manifestó que tiene familia que no ha aparecido. #ListínDiario pic.twitter.com/QzPvo7aFfv
— LISTÍN DIARIO (@ListinDiario) April 9, 2025
Rescue crews are still searching for victims in the rubble. One hundred forty-five survivors have already been recovered. Rescue workers estimate they will need to continue their search for another 24-36 hours.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement after the roof collapse, giving condolences to the affected residents of the Dominican Republic and beyond.
"The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today," Manfred said in the press release.