Memorials have begun taking place for a merengue star and others killed when a cement roof collapsed at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic.
As crews searched for more bodies under the rubble, the number of confirmed dead rose to 221.
Mourners clad in black and white streamed into Santo Domingo’s National Theatre, where Rubby Perez’s body lay inside a closed coffin.
Perez had been performing on stage at the Jet Set club early on Tuesday when the disaster happened.
President Luis Abinader and first lady Raquel Arbaje arrived at the theatre and stood beside Perez’s coffin for several minutes.
Some mourners doubled over in tears as a recording of Perez singing the national anthem was played. Renowned Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra was among those gathered to pay their respects.
Just blocks away, crews continued the grim hunt for victims and survivors.
Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations, said “We’ve practically combed through ground zero.” He said crews were focusing on one last small area of rubble.
Later on Thursday, Mr Mendez broke down while addressing reporters. “Thank you, God, because today we accomplished the most difficult task I’ve had in 20 years,” he said, moving the microphone away from his face as he cried.
Officials said 189 people had been rescued alive from the rubble. More than 200 were injured, with 24 of them still in hospital, including eight 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 Victor Atallah.
He and other doctors said some of the injured suffered fractures to the skull, femur and pelvis.
The renowned 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 roof collapsed.
Since then, many people have been anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, growing frustrated with the drip of information provided by hospitals and the country’s forensic institute.
At least 146 bodies have been identified, authorities said on Thursday.
Maria Luisa Taveras told TV station Noticias SIN that she was looking for her sister. “We have gone everywhere they have told us,” she said, her voice breaking.
Dozens of people waited at the Institute of Forensic Pathology on Thursday, wearing face masks and complaining about the odour as they demanded the release of their loved ones’ bodies.
Victims identified so far include former Major League Baseball (MLB) players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera; and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the north-western province of Montecristi whose brother is seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz.
Also killed was a retired United Nations official; saxophonist Luis Solis, who was playing onstage when the roof fell; New York-based fashion designer Martin 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.
Minutes after the roof collapsed, the 911 system received more than 100 calls, many of those made by people buried under the rubble, said Randolfo Rijo Gomez, the system’s director.
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. Prosecutors also arrived at the scene.
It is still unclear what caused the roof to collapse or when the building was last inspected.
The government said late on Wednesday that once the recovery phase ended, it would launch a thorough investigation.
The club said it was co-operating with authorities. − AP
