The tragic incident at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where a roof collapse resulted in the death of over 200 people in April, has prompted the club owner, Antonio Espaillat, to address the public for the first time since the disaster. Speaking to local TV station Telesistema, Espaillat revealed that the nightclub had been plagued by filtration problems for several years leading up to the fateful incident.
On the night of April 8, while a concert featuring merengue singer Rubby Pérez was in full swing, the roof collapsed, claiming the lives of 231 individuals and injuring 180 more. Espaillat disclosed that the ceiling, constructed with plaster tiles, had a history of falling due to ongoing filtration issues, which were routinely repaired over time.
Expressing remorse to the families of the victims, Espaillat declared his intention to confront the situation head-on, asserting that he will not evade responsibility. The first lawsuit has been filed by a victim’s family against the owners of Jet Set, with more families planning to follow suit. Amid allegations of neglected safety inspections, the wife and parents of the late police lieutenant, Virgilio Rafael Cruz Aponte, have vowed to pursue manslaughter charges against the venue’s proprietors and local government.
An official investigation into the tragedy is underway and is projected to last several months. Espaillat has pledged full cooperation with the authorities during the probe. As the scrutiny intensifies, Jet Set and its owners are under heightened scrutiny, facing a long road of legal challenges and public scrutiny in the aftermath of the devastating incident
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