Two Former MLB Players Dead After Roof Collapse
Tragedy struck in the Dominican Republic when the roof of a popular night club collapsed, killing at least 66 people, including two former Major League Baseball players.
According to a report from MLB insider Héctor Gómez, former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and infielder Tony Blanco were killed when the roof collapsed at the popular Jet Set nightclub, located in the capital of Santo Domingo.
The incident happened at 12:34 a.m. Tuesday, during a concert by the Dominican merengue singer Rubby Pérez, according to the police. Police said that the roof collapsed within seconds. At leat 66 people were killed in the incident and more than 155 were injured.
"We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub," Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said in a post on social media. "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."
Dotel started games for 13 different teams throughout his career and even won a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals. Blanco, meanwhile, appeared in 56 games for the Washington Nationals in 2005.
"Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all the victims of last night's tragedy in Santo Domingo," MLB Commissioner of Baseball Robert Manfred Jr. said in a statement. "We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected and to our colleague Nelson and his entire family. The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today."
Authorities also confirmed that the singer, Pérez, was mong those killed in the collapse. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi, was also among those who passed away in the roof collapse. She is the sister of former major league slugger Nelson Cruz.
The rescue and recovery efforts are still underway as is the investigation into how the collapse happened in the first place.