Former MLB star Octavio Dotel is among dozens killed and over 160 injured when a roof collapsed at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic.
The 51-year-old Dominican baseball pitcher died from injuries sustained in the roof collapse, which happened shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday during a merengue concert at the nightclub, located in nation’s capital of Santo Domingo.
The tragedy also claimed the lives of former major league player Tony Blanco, 43, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northern Monte Cristi province and sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz. The collapse killed at least 66 people.
Nelsy Cruz called Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader after the collapse to tell him that she was trapped, the Associated Press and the Guardian reported, citing the country’s first lady, Raquel Arbaje.
“Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all the victims of last night’s tragedy in Santo Domingo,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “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.”
What caused the roof collapse?
A cause is not yet known.
The club’s owner, Antonio Espaillat, took to Instagram to say that he and the club were cooperating with and helping authorities.
“There are not enough words to express the pain this event has caused,” he said. “What happened was devastating for all. We want you to know that we are with you, that we share your grief.”
In the minutes leading up to the collapse, video showed that people inside the club were pointing at the roof and that there was a fire at the same nightclub in 2023, ABC News reported.
Aerial footage shows a massive, gaping hole where the roof used to be.
