Nightclub Owner Arrested After Roof Collapse Kills 236 in Dominican Republic

The owner of a Dominican Republic nightclub, Antonio Espaillat, was arrested on Thursday, along with his sister, Maribel Espaillat. The nightclub's roof collapsed in April, resulting in the deaths of 236 people. While they have been taken into custody, formal charges have not yet been filed. Authorities have a 48-hour window to present any charges before a judge.

The Attorney General's Office of the Dominican Republic stated that the defendants demonstrated significant irresponsibility and negligence by failing to take action to prevent the roof's collapse. Prosecutors also accused the Espaillats of attempting to intimidate or manipulate employees of the company, who could potentially serve as witnesses in the case.

The Espaillats were arrested after undergoing several hours of interrogation. A government-appointed committee, which includes international experts, is still investigating the cause of the roof's collapse.

In an interview conducted in late April, Antonio Espaillat mentioned that his family had operated the building for approximately 30 years. He stated that no engineer, architect, or state authority had ever conducted a structural review of the building. However, he claimed that firefighters and city officials had inspected the premises for basic safety and licensing issues. Espaillat also noted that structural inspections are not common practice for businesses in the area.

Rescue efforts commenced shortly after midnight on April 8 in Santo Domingo, with crews working continuously for 53 hours. They managed to rescue 189 survivors. The tragedy deeply affected the community. The victims included prominent figures such as singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province. Also among the deceased were former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera. Other victims included a retired U.N. official, a New York-based fashion designer, an Army captain, and employees of a financial services company. The club, which had been in operation for nearly five decades, was known for its Monday night merengue parties, which drew international celebrities and prominent Dominicans.