At least 44 people are dead after the roof collapsed at a nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic, authorities said.
Rescue workers have been searching for survivors in the rubble of the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations.
There were 134 ambulance transfers to different hospitals, which Mr Mendez said could be the equivalent of 150 to 160 patients.
He added he is expecting there to be many people still alive and said authorities “will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble”.
The cause of the roof collapse is not yet clear.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northern Montecristi province, is among those to have died.
Meanwhile, the injured include Dominican singer Rubby Perez, who was performing when the roof collapsed.
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His manager Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight, with the roof collapsing almost an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.
Mr Paulino said: “It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner.”
He added that he initially thought there had been an earthquake.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader wrote on X: “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred. All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”
Mr Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces.
He did not speak to reporters.
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An official with a megaphone stood outside the club imploring the large crowd, which had gathered to search for friends and relatives, to give ambulances space.
“You have to cooperate with authorities… please,” he said.
“We are removing people.”
At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered around her and shouted out the names of their loved ones.
