Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse. At least 124 dead.

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Among the dead are the headlining performer, Rubby Pérez, the governor of a province, and two former MLB players.

https://apnews.com/article/dominica...psed-jet-set-8ff771f605ca3e1e575263677e384cda


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I remember years ago while I was in Mexico, our cab drove by a multistory nightclub similar in size to this one. The driver told us how many people they squeezed in there on a given night. I can't remember the number, but it was INSANE given the relatively small size of the building. I wonder if this building collapsed in part due to being above capacity.
 
Pedro Martinez says that he has missing family members who he suspects where there at the time of the roof collapse.


Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez said on social media that several of his family members were inside the nightclub that collapsed in the Dominican Republic early Tuesday.​
"I still have family members that are still in the rubbles, and we don't know what happened to them," Martinez said in a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday night.​
At least 124 people have been killed, with hundreds more injured from the collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo that occurred around 1 a.m. Tuesday.​
 
I remember years ago while I was in Mexico, our cab drove by a multistory nightclub similar in size to this one. The driver told us how many people they squeezed in there on a given night. I can't remember the number, but it was INSANE given the relatively small size of the building. I wonder if this building collapsed in part due to being above capacity.

Unlikely. The roof collapsed and it looks like it was mostly just one big room. Maybe some balconies. It could have something more to do with it having weakened over the years.
 
The building code and standard in developing countries can be very different and individual owners not paying for the highest quality in maintenance, adding too many load on top (AC these days). Often times standards aren't improved until tragedies happen and steer public opinions.
 
I remember years ago while I was in Mexico, our cab drove by a multistory nightclub similar in size to this one. The driver told us how many people they squeezed in there on a given night. I can't remember the number, but it was INSANE given the relatively small size of the building. I wonder if this building collapsed in part due to being above capacity.

You wonder? I mean no disrecpest but don't think for a second these countries actually monitor and DR is historically on the take in ways you may not fathom. I say this as I've traveled a few times in the back country of the DR with my BIL. Try driving there. Very few have any insurance.

Good people but the cities are a harsh world for whities like me. Country fine but you don't go where you arent offerd as a whitey. If you do, you better mind your respect and carry yourself well. My wife's parents have a few places there and I go with my BIL a few times year. DR ain't no Puerto Rico! PR safer for sure. DR has a ton of illegal guns and they would cost me $1500 for a G19 but legal route is much higher when your done. Been dealing with this for a year now.
 
Going to a nightclub in any country is a risky activity. They combine the rowdiness of a bar with the dense crowds and limited exits of a theater. Accidental fires likely lead the disaster death toll, but there is also the risk of mass shooting, other terrorism, human stampede, and of course structural collapse.
 
There are a few videos circulating around X and Twitter of before, during, and after the event if you so dare. I wouldnt recommend it.
 
Big acts also often bring their own stage lights and stuff to hang from the ceiling. The weight has to be accounted for in the engineering of the building. Open-span structures like arenas and this one (because who wants columns in the middle of a dance floor) tend to have little margin beyond their own weight.
 
Maybe roof had damage from the hurricanes over the years and it just gave way ?

No way I would hang out in a place like this if I was younger.
 
Has anybody heard the number of people that were actually in the building when it collapsed ?
 
The building code and standard in developing countries can be very different and individual owners not paying for the highest quality in maintenance, adding too many load on top (AC these days). Often times standards aren't improved until tragedies happen and steer public opinions.
Just had a company come today to check the roof and original blue prints of the school building I'm the head custodian in. Building built 1959 adding a big AC unit up top. I don't see that happening in DR. I did question who here is the structural engineer. They said it's not really necessary. I told them I have elementary school kids eating in the cafeteria below us I will put that in my notes that gets forwarded to my boss.
 
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