Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces. He did not speak to reporters.

President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 20, 2023. (LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)

An official with a megaphone stood outside the club imploring the large crowd that had gathered to search for friends and relatives to give ambulances space.

“You have to cooperate with authorities, please,” he said. “We are removing people.”

At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered around her and yelled out the names of their loved ones.

ANKARA, TURKIYE – APRIL 8: An infographic titled “Roof collapse at Dominican Republic nightclub” created in Ankara, Turkiye on April 8, 2025. (Photo by Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse.