Number of dead in a roof collapse at a nightclub in Dominican Republic rises to 218

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The number of dead in a roof collapse at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic surged to 218 on Thursday, an official said. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, said crews at the scene were still looking for victims and potential survivors, although no one has been found alive since Tuesday afternoon. "We've practically combed through ground zero," he said, adding that there's one very small area of rubble left that crews are focusing on. "This has been very difficult for us all." Doctors warned that some of the two dozen patients who remained hospitalized were still not in the clear, especially the eight who were in critical condition. "If the trauma is too great, there's not a lot of time" left to save patients in that condition, said Health Minister Víctor Atallah. He and other doctors said that injuries include fractures in the skull, femur and pelvis caused by slabs of cement falling on those attending a merengue concert at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where more than 200 were injured. On Wednesday, dozens of people had anxiously searched for their loved ones, growing frustrated upon getting no answers after visiting hospitals and the country's forensic institute. By Thursday, a lone family remained with no answers. María Luisa Taveras told TV station Noticias SIN that she was still looking for her sister. "We have gone everywhere they told us," she said, her voice breaking. Taveras said the family has spread out, with a relative stationed at each hospital and at the forensic institute. The government said Wednesday night that it was moving to a recovery phase focused on finding bodies. The legendary club was packed with musicians, professional athletes and government officials when dust began falling from the ceiling and into people's drinks early Tuesday. Minutes later, the roof collapsed. Victims include merengue icon Rubby Pérez, who had been singing to the crowd before the roof fell; former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera; and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi whose brother is seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz. Also killed was a retired United Nations official; saxophonist Luis Solís, who was playing onstage when the roof fell; New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco; the son and daughter-in-law of the minister of public works; the brother of the vice minister of the Ministry of Youth; and three employees of Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife. Randolfo Rijo Gómez, director of the country's 911 system, said it received more than 100 calls, with several of those made by people buried under the rubble. He noted that police arrived at the scene in 90 seconds, followed minutes later by first response units. In less than half an hour, 25 soldiers, seven fire brigades and 77 ambulances were activated, he said. Crews used dogs and thermal cameras to search for victims, rescuing more than 180 survivors from the rubble, authorities said. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse, or when the Jet Set building was last inspected. The government said late Wednesday that once the recovery phase ends, it will launch a thorough investigation. The club issued a statement saying it was cooperating with authorities. A spokesperson for the family that owns the club told The Associated Press that she passed along questions about potential inspections. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works referred questions to the mayor's office. A spokesperson for the mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment.