At the very least 79 folks had been killed and 160 had been injured early Tuesday when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub within the Dominican Republic capital of Santo Domingo collapsed throughout a merengue live performance.

Among the many victims had been two former Main League Baseball gamers, Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, the Ministry of Sports activities and Recreation confirmed on social media. Dotel spent 15 years within the main leagues, throughout which he pitched for 13 groups, together with the St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he gained a world championship, based on the Related Press. The 51-year-old signed with the New York Mets in 1993 and made his professional debut in 1999.

Dotel was rescued from the rubble, officers informed the outlet, however he was later mourned by the ministry. "We deeply remorse the passing of former Main League Baseball participant and Dominican Sports activities Legend Octavio Dotel," officers wrote in Spanish. "His legacy on and off the sphere leaves an indelible mark on the historical past of Dominican baseball. Peace to his soul and energy to his household and family members."

Of Blanco, they wrote: "We deeply remorse the passing of former Main League Baseball participant Tony Blanco. His legacy will dwell on within the historical past of nationwide baseball. We share his household, associates, and teammates' grief and supply our prayers for his everlasting relaxation. Peace to his soul."

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Blanco, 43, performed one yr within the professionals, with the Washington Nationals, in 2005. He spent eight years within the minors and performed professionally in Japan, per PEOPLE.

On the identical time, it was initially unclear if singer Rubby Pérez, who was about an hour right into a efficiency when the roof got here down, survived. Nevertheless, Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the official Emergency Operations Middle, later confirmed to the AP and the New York Times that Pérez had not been positioned. Recognized for songs resembling "Volveré" and "Enamorado de Ella," Billboard's Latin publication famous that Pérez had been "a world ambassador for merengue."

Early on, daughter Zulinka Pérez, who stated she's additionally a backup singer of his, had informed reporters that her father was OK. "He's injured, however he's inside; they discovered him singing," she stated. "He began singing so they might hear him. He's at all times informed me: 'If one thing ever occurs to me, cowl me so nobody takes photos.'"

A neighborhood information outlet additionally stated that he was "secure and hospitalized," citing Pérez's supervisor.

Nevertheless, a brother of Pérez claimed the singer was nonetheless lacking. "In the meanwhile, he has not been rescued from the rubble," the brother informed SIN. "He hasn't been despatched to any hospital. Given the time the occasion occurred, which has already been 14 hours…. Solely God's grace can actually carry out a miracle. Rubby remains to be within the rubble; we haven't been in a position to rescue him. We hope he's alive. We're sharing this information as a household, and I need it to be the appropriate one."

Late Tuesday, the profile picture on Pérez's official Instagram account was all black.

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