Cause of Dominican Republic roof collapse that killed 236 revealed

The owners of the doomed Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where 236 people were buried alive earlier this year, ignored obvious warning signs and building safety laws, leading to the catastrophic collapse, a bombshell new government report reveals.

Sibling club owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, who were arrested last week, overloaded the building’s roof, made structural changes without permits and refused to call off the ill-fated April 8 bash despite obvious signs of danger hours earlier, the report said, according to Dominican Today.

“The defendant Maribel Espaillat, aware of a falling debris incident hours before the collapse and in response to a request to suspend the activity, refused to do so, citing the absence of the defendant Antonio Espaillat López and the impossibility of stopping the party, prioritizing economic gain over the safety and lives of people,” the Public Ministry document said.

“The nightclub, originally a movie theater, underwent a change of use that involved an inadequate structural adaptation,” investigators said.

“A key column in the structure was subsequently removed, significantly affecting the roof’s stability, without any professional assessment or permit to support the modification, demonstrating high-risk behavior.”

The nightmarish mishap came in the midst of a celebration at the former hot spot, with the victims including popular performer Rubby Perez, the party’s headliner, and former MLB relief pitcher Octavio Dotel.

Also killed were Dominican ballplayer Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and the sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz.

Other victims include a retired UN official, New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco, an Army captain who left behind four young girls and three employees at Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.

Authorities said 180 others were injured.

The club, which had operated for nearly five decades, was known for its Monday night merengue parties that attracted international celebrities and high-profile Dominicans.

According to the Spanish-language Dominican outlet Listin Diario, a complete investigation into the tragedy has been hampered by the overwhelming number of victims.