Dominican nightclub owners request temporary closure for national mourning

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s nightclub owners’ union (UDCEND) has formally requested a three-day nationwide suspension of operations for all establishments in the sector to observe national mourning following the tragic collapse at the Jet Set nightclub.

Junior González, president of UDCEND, issued a statement directed to the Ministry of Interior and Police, urging all business owners in the industry to suspend activities at their venues across the country for the three days of national mourning declared after the incident at the Jet Set disco.

González stressed the significance of respecting the national period of mourning and appealed to the competent authorities and military forces to prevent the opening of nightclubs during this time.

For 52 years, the Jet Set nightclub, whose roof collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday morning, had held a special place in the Dominican capital. It had become a cultural institution, a stage for renowned artists, and the celebrated location for its weekly Monday night parties that extended the weekend festivities. Its famous “dancing Mondays” had become a mandatory gathering for enthusiasts of merengue, salsa, and live music.

Tragically, it was during one of these very Monday night events, in the early hours of Tuesday, that the club’s roof suddenly collapsed. The devastating incident has so far resulted in at least 18 fatalities and 121 injuries.

What initially opened as an international-style disco, its name drawing inspiration from the jet-setting elite of the 1970s, evolved in the 1990s into a prominent tropical concert hall.