Tragic cause of nightclub roof collapse that killed 236 revealed as owners are accused of ignoring warning signs
The owners of a Dominican nightclub where a roof collapsed, killing 236 revelers, had ignored warning signs that a tragedy could strike, according to a new government report investigating the horror accident.
Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the sibling owners of Jet Set nightclub, were arrested last week, two months after the rooftop of the iconic club collapsed during an event, killing 236 attendees and injuring 150 more.
The Public Prosecutor's Office in the Dominican Republic has sought preventative detention for Antonio and house arrest for his sister, according to Dominican Today.
The prosecutors allege the duo's 'chain of actions and omissions... demonstrates a systematic pattern of irresponsibility and negligence.'
Citing examples of such actions, a report from the office alleges the duo failed to get proper permits for the work they conducted on the nightclub, and conducted 'structural modifications without a technical basis, overloading the roof, deficient 'repairs' and disregard for danger warnings.'
Prosecutors accused the Espaillats of trying to intimidate or manipulate company employees who could have been used as witnesses in the case.
Antonio Espaillat is considered a powerful businessman in the Dominican Republic; he owns upscale entertainment centers and dozens of local radio stations.
The Public Ministry claimed in the report that on the night of the tragedy, Maribel 'was aware of a falling debris incident hours before the collapse.'
She was asked to suspend the planned party for that evening but 'refused to do so.'
In her refusal, Maribel allegedly 'cited the absence of Antonio... and the impossibility of stopping the party, prioritizing economic gain over the safety and lives of people.'
The report stated the tragedy 'would have been entirely avoidable if the defendants had acted according to the law and valued life over money.'
The nightclub owners allegedly overloaded the roof of the club with technical booths, six air conditioning units weighing between 15 and 20 tons each, and water tanks.
They did this 'without conducting any study to guarantee the structure's capacity to support such weight,' the report stated.
Additionally, 'the nightclub, originally a movie theater, underwent a change of use that involved an inadequate structural adaptation,' prosecutors stated.
'A key column in the structure was subsequently removed, significantly affecting the roof's stability, without any professional assessment or permit to support the modification, demonstrating high-risk behavior.'
Other changes which took place without oversight included installing a stage, lighting systems, bars, and VIP areas, prosecutors stated.
Prosecutors allege the duo were completely aware that the roof was having problems and had received 'visual reports (photos and videos)' as well as 'communications from their employees.'
In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, first responders worked through rubble and debris to find survivors.
Crews worked for 53 hours nonstop after arriving on the scene in Santo Domingo shortly after midnight on April 8, rescuing 189 survivors.
Once that was done and all the bodies were removed, the Public Ministry directed teams to preserve the debris to be inspected as part of the investigation.
The victims included singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof caved in, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz.
Also killed was former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, who was pulled from the debris but died in hospital, and Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera.
Other victims include a retired U.N. official, New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco, an Army captain who left behind four young girls, and three employees at Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.
The relatives of several survivors have filed lawsuits against Antonio Espaillat.
The club, which had operated for nearly five decades, was known for its Monday night merengue parties that attracted international celebrities and high-profile Dominicans.
Miguel Valerio, the Espaillats' attorney, said earlier this week: 'This is an involuntary homicide. Nobody wanted that to happen.'
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