Bombshell Report Reveals Cause of Dominican Republic Roof Collapse That Killed 236: ‘Complete Disregard for Building and Safety Laws’
The owners of the doomed Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where 236 people were buried alive earlier this year, ignored obvious warning signs and building safety laws, leading to the catastrophic collapse, a bombshell new government report reveals.
Sibling club owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, who were arrested last week, overloaded the building’s roof, made structural changes without permits and refused to call off the ill-fated April 8 bash despite obvious signs of danger hours earlier, the report said, according to Dominican Today.
“The defendant Maribel Espaillat, aware of a falling debris incident hours before the collapse and in response to a request to suspend the activity, refused to do so, citing the absence of the defendant Antonio Espaillat López and the impossibility of stopping the party, prioritizing economic gain over the safety and lives of people,” the Public Ministry document said.
“The nightclub, originally a movie theater, underwent a change of use that involved an inadequate structural adaptation,” investigators said.
“A key column in the structure was subsequently removed, significantly affecting the roof’s stability, without any professional assessment or permit to support the modification, demonstrating high-risk behavior.” (Read more from “Bombshell Report Reveals Cause of Dominican Republic Roof Collapse That Killed 236: ‘Complete Disregard for Building and Safety Laws’” HERE)
