THE death toll in the horror nightclub collapse has climbed to 184, as hopes dwindle of finding survivors beneath the rubble.
The ceiling collapsed during a concert at the legendary Jet Set club in the Dominican Republic on Monday.
Members of the fire and rescue services work at the scene after the collapse[/caption]
The death toll has now risen to 184[/caption]
People check the lists of dead and injured outside the club[/caption]
Families have been gathered outside the wreckage of the club for two days as they wait anxiously for news of their missing loved ones.
Meanwhile the emergency services have been working tirelessly in an effort to reach anyone still trapped under the rubble.
The head of the country’s emergency operations Juan Manuel Mendez said that crews at the scene were still looking for victims and potential survivors.
But he warned that no one has been found alive since Tuesday afternoon.
Mendez said: “We’re not going to abandon anyone. Our work will continue.”
Rescue crews from Puerto Rico and Israel have also arrived to help with the search.
Families on the scene continue to hold out hope of finding their loved ones, but as the days go on the search becomes more grim.
Devastated dad-of-two Alex de Leon is hoping that his ex-wife and mum of their children will be found.
He said: “Unfortunately I don’t have any information about where they are.”
“My 15 year-old son is devastated, and the little one who is 9 remains calm because we’ve told him that his mom is at work.”
Horror footage captured the moment when the roof collapsed at the venue during a concert by singer Rubby Perez.
Falling concrete slabs killed some instantly while others were left trapped on the dance floor.
The singer was confirmed to have been killed in the tragedy after he was originally listed among the missing.
The concert was filled with musicians, professional athletes and government officials.
So far only a few dozen people killed in the collapse have been identified.
These include a governor and a member of the Dominican Republic’s congress, according to authorities.
Also confirmed dead are two former US Major League Baseball stars – Tony Blanco, 43, and Octavio Dotel.
Dotel, 51, who played for 13 major league teams and won the 2011 World Series as a member of the St Louis Cardinals, had been trapped under rubble for around 11 hours before rescue teams reached him.
He died of the injuries he sustained after being rushed to a military hospital.
Blanco, who played for the Washington Nationals in 2005 before spending eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, was reportedly killed when he tried to save his friend and former baseball player Esteban German, being hit by falling debris.
A rescue worker comforts a woman during the search for survivors[/caption]
People pray for their missing relatives outside the wreckage[/caption]
Emergency services work at the scene[/caption]
Antonio Espaillat, a representative of the family which owns the nightclub where the tragedy occurred, said: “There are not enough words to express the pain of this event.
“What happened has been devastating for everyone. We want you to know that we are with you, that we share your anguish.
“From the very beginning, we have been cooperating fully and transparently with the authorities.
“We remain in constant communication with the Emergency Operations Centre as search and rescue efforts continue with emergency teams, volunteers and personnel from more than 22 institutions.”
The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader has also declared three days of national mourning.
The shocking incident comes after tragedy struck at another nightclub in North Macedonia just weeks ago, when the building erupted into flames.
Club Pulse turned into an inferno during a concert overnight, leaving at least 59 young partygoers dead and another 155 injured – 22 of whom were in critical condition.
Singer Rubby Perez’s died in the horror collapse[/caption]
Rescue teams work at the site[/caption]
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