The number of fatalities resulting from the nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic has tragically increased to 226. Authorities have confirmed that all recovered bodies have been returned to their families.

Health Minister Victor Atallah informed reporters that 221 individuals lost their lives inside the Jet Set club in the early hours of Tuesday. Additionally, four more victims have passed away while receiving treatment in the hospital.

The health ministry later announced the death of a Costa Rican citizen, which occurred on Saturday. This brought the total number of deceased to 226. However, Atallah had previously cautioned that other victims with severe burns were still in critical condition in various hospitals.

This catastrophic event, which is the Caribbean nation’s most devastating tragedy in recent decades, unfolded as hundreds of people had gathered to enjoy a performance by merengue singer Rubby Perez.

The 69-year-old singer tragically died at the scene. A memorial service was held for him on Thursday at the National Theater. President Luis Abinader and the singer’s daughter, Zulinka, who survived the disaster, were in attendance.

The number of fatalities from the roof collapse exceeds the 136 inmates who perished in a prison fire in Higuey back in 2005.

The president’s office had earlier reported that 189 people were rescued alive from the wreckage of the nightclub, which is now a mass of debris.

Aerial photographs of the location reveal a scene reminiscent of the aftermath of an earthquake.

Evening Vigil

On Friday night, a vigil was held near the nightclub, with several dozen people present.

A message on a makeshift altar read, “A painted flower for each angel up above. May their rest be eternal… This great injustice must be explained.”

Arlenne Matos, a 47-year-old resident living close to the club, recounted hearing what sounded like “an explosion” or “an earthquake,” immediately followed by desperate cries.

She stated, “People were shouting ‘Let’s get out of here! I’m alive! Help me!’ It’s the greatest tragedy I could imagine in all my years.”

A constant flow of vehicles paused near the vigil. Some occupants exited to observe in solemn silence, while others contributed candles, flowers, messages, or black and white balloons.

‘Several’ Americans

The scale of the tragedy had overwhelmed resources.

Health Minister Atallah stated on Thursday that “no pathology institute has the capacity to handle so many bodies so quickly.”

However, authorities had pledged on Friday that the remains of all victims would be returned to their families by 2 am Saturday.

Nevertheless, some discrepancies were reported.

Julio Alberto Acosta, who lost his stepdaughter in the incident, expressed his distress, saying, “They gave us a body that wasn’t hers.”

He added, “They gave us a bag, and we insisted on opening it to verify, but it wasn’t her… We want them to give us the right one so her mom can see her and go to bury her.”

The preliminary list of victims includes a Haitian, an Italian, two French citizens, and “several” Americans, according to the US State Department.

The victims also included two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor.

What, Why, How

To assist in the identification process, twelve additional forensic pathologists were brought in, according to the health ministry.

The government extended the initial three-day national mourning period for an additional three days, lasting until Sunday. They also announced the formation of a special commission consisting of national and foreign experts to investigate the cause of the disaster.

President Abinader pledged on Friday to determine “what happened, why it happened, how it happened.”