A crowd of people grew increasingly agitated as they waited at the Dominican Republic’s forensic institute for news of their loved ones still missing a day after a roof collapsed at an iconic nightclub, killing at least 124 people and injuring hundreds more.
National Institute of Forensic Pathology officials on Wednesday read the names of 54 victims they have identified so far.
“We cannot wait until night time,” said one woman who was waiting for news of a relative whose name she did not hear. “We’re going to go crazy.”
Officials called for calm, saying they have already delivered 28 bodies to their families but do not yet have a tally of all the bodies recovered. Officials said more than 250 people were hurt.
“The authorities are selling us false dreams!” cried out Jose Sanchez, whose brother and brother-in-law were still missing.
The legendary Jet Set club in Santo Domingo was packed with musicians, professional athletes and government officials when dust began falling from the ceiling and into people’s drinks early on Tuesday.
Minutes later, the entire roof collapsed. Concrete slabs killed some instantly and trapped dozens of others on a dancefloor where hundreds had been dancing to a lively merengue concert. In the minutes that followed, the country’s 911 system received more than 100 calls, many from people buried under rubble
The victims include merengue icon Rubby Pérez, who had been singing to the crowd before disaster struck. His body was found early on Wednesday, said emergency operations director Juan Manuel Mendez.
Rescue crews are still searching for survivors more than 24 hours after the collapse. Officials said on Wednesday they have rescued 145 survivors from the wreckage of the nightclub.
“As long as they report that there is a missing person, we will be here,” Mendez said.
Rescue crews from Puerto Rico and Israel arrived on Wednesday to help with the search. Officials said crews used sonar to detect what could be one person still breathing under the rubble.
So far, only a few dozen people have been identified in one of the worst disasters to hit the Dominican Republic. Local media reported that those who died include a cardiologist, a government architect, a retired police officer and the brother of the vice minister of the Ministry of Youth.
Also killed was baseball star Octavio Dotel, an MLB pitcher, and Dominican player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, Satosky Terrero, spokesperson for the country’s Professional Baseball League, told The Associated Press.
Other victims include saxophonist Luis Solís, who was playing onstage when the roof fell; New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco; several Venezuelan bartenders; and an Army captain who left behind four young girls.
Countless more remain unidentified.
“I have been to many hospitals, and I have not found her,” Deysi Suriel said of her friend, 61-year-old Milca Curiel, a North Carolina resident who was on vacation in the Dominican Republic.
More than 20 of the injured remained hospitalised Wednesday, including at least eight in critical condition.
“A point in their favour is that they’re young,” said Julio Landrón, director general of the Dr. Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital, which has 21 of the Jet Set injured, including five in critical condition.
Landrón warned, however, that none of them are in the clear, noting some suffered fractures in the skull, femur and pelvis.
“They spent hours, more than six, seven, eight hours under rubble with multiple fractures, multiple injuries, with bleeding related to being crushed,” he said.
Dozens of frantic relatives listened to officials read aloud a list of the identified victims at the forensics institute, while others went from hospital to hospital looking for their loved ones, some clutching photographs.
“Francisco Alberto Mendez … Rosa Herminia Pérez … Ramon Teodoro Jimenez … Juan Manuel Santana,” one official read as the crowd strained to listen.
“Here! Here!” yelled one person upon hearing the name of their loved one.
In the crowd was Virginia Rosario, who was looking for relatives including her cousin, who is still missing, and her sister, Rosa Herminia Pérez, who died and whom she described as “beautiful, precious, very nice.”
“I’m in a lot of pain,” she said. “I have had many moments of despair.”
Officials said they have not been able to identify at least 33 bodies.
“This is a very traumatic situation,” said national politician Pedro Martinez, who also has relatives missing.
