Over 200 Dead, Including Former MLB Pitcher Octavio Dotel, After Roof Collapses at Dominican Republic Nightclub

April 10, 2025 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

A catastrophic structural failure at a popular nightclub in Santo Domingo has claimed the lives of more than 200 people, including former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, in what officials are calling one of the deadliest structural disasters in the country’s history.

The collapse occurred shortly after midnight at Club Euphoria, a well-known entertainment venue in the capital city’s tourism district, when the building’s roof suddenly gave way during peak operating hours. The multi-level structure was reportedly at full capacity hosting a special event featuring several local celebrities and musicians.

“It happened without warning,” said survivor Manuel Ortiz, 27, who was treated for injuries at a local hospital. “One moment everyone was dancing, and the next there was this terrible cracking sound. Then everything came down.”

Emergency response teams worked through the night and continue to search for survivors among the rubble. The Dominican Republic’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that as of this afternoon, the death toll stands at 213, with approximately 150 others injured, many critically.

Dominican President Luis Abinader declared three days of national mourning and visited the disaster site early this morning, promising a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse.

“This is a profound tragedy that has struck at the heart of our nation,” President Abinader told reporters. “We will not rest until we understand exactly what happened and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”

Among the confirmed fatalities was 51-year-old Octavio Dotel, a Dominican-born former MLB relief pitcher who played for 13 different teams during his 15-year career from 1999 to 2013, including winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. Local media reported that Dotel was attending the event with friends when the disaster occurred.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement expressing condolences: “The baseball community is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Octavio Dotel. He was not only an accomplished player but a beloved ambassador for the game in the Dominican Republic. Our thoughts are with his family and all those affected by this terrible disaster.”

Several of Dotel’s former teammates and Dominican baseball stars, including David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, and Albert Pujols, have posted tributes on social media expressing their shock and grief.

Preliminary reports suggest that recent unauthorized renovations to the building and heavy rainfall in the preceding days may have contributed to the structural failure. Local building inspector Carlos Ramirez told reporters that the venue had been cited for safety violations twice in the past year but had remained open.

“There will be questions about permits, about inspections, about enforcement,” said Minister of Public Works Deligne Ascención. “I assure the Dominican people that we will get answers.”

The nightclub’s owners, Grupo Entretenimiento Nacional, issued a statement expressing “profound sorrow” over the tragedy and pledged to cooperate fully with authorities in the investigation.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as emergency responders, joined by civilian volunteers, worked to extract victims from the debris. Local hospitals quickly became overwhelmed, prompting health officials to call in off-duty medical personnel and to convert school gymnasiums into temporary treatment centers.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” said Dr. Elena Suarez, director of emergency services at Dr. Francisco Moscoso Puello Hospital. “Our staff is working around the clock, but the scale of this tragedy is testing our limits.”

International assistance has begun to arrive, with search and rescue teams from the United States, Mexico, and neighboring Puerto Rico joining local efforts. The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo confirmed that several American citizens were among those at the club, though it has not yet confirmed if any were among the casualties.

This disaster follows a troubling pattern of structural failures in the Caribbean nation in recent years. In 2023, a hotel collapse in Punta Cana killed 17 people, raising questions about building standards enforcement in the tourism-dependent country.

For now, families of those still unaccounted for continue to gather near the site, clutching photos of loved ones and awaiting news from recovery teams.

“My daughter called me right before it happened to say she was having a wonderful time,” said Sonia Mendez, whose 24-year-old daughter remains missing. “Now I just want to find her, whatever the outcome. The not knowing is unbearable.”

Officials have established a crisis center at a nearby convention facility where families can receive updates, counseling services, and assistance with identifying victims.