Today, at 11:00 am, the request for coercive measures against the Espaillat brothers is scheduled to be heard.
SANTO DOMINGO – In the final considerations of the preliminary technical-expert report on the Jet Set Club, the team that investigated the causes of the collapse recommended the demolition of the rest of the building. “ No repairs , only demolition or reconstruction ,” the document concludes.
The findings delivered last week to the Public Prosecutor's Office , whose members were the forensic engineer Fierro from the University of California; the pathological engineer Maximo Corominas from the Eduardo Torrojas Institute, from Spain; the engineer Marcos Paniagua, with a master's degree from the Catholic University of Chile and Remi Luciano, with a master's degree and earthquake-resistant engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), establish that the collapse was due to overloading on the roof of the building.
The study reveals that the greatest structural deformations were observed in the southern part of the roof, citing bending failures in beams in that area where there was a greater concentration of load. "It was observed that the bending moment occurred because the acting loads exceeded the beam's bending capacity," it reveals.
The report indicates that after the structural analysis, the results were observed, based on the load that was on top of the beams, such as four layers of fine materials with different thicknesses totaling 37.5 cm, air conditioning equipment, water tanks, and self-weight.
The report indicates that the collapse began with the failure of a beam , followed by a progressive pattern of structural instability. The critical point was located in the post-tensioned beams along axes H and 1 , specifically near the southeast corner of the roof .
In addition, other factors that contributed to the excess load on the roof were identified, including:
- Four (4) layers of superimposed fine mortar, with a total height of 37.5 cm.
- Four (4) water tanks.
- Six (6) air conditioning units.
- Seven (7) aluzinc booths.
The report concludes that the observed collapse pattern corresponds to an overload-induced failure , as a result of the accumulated weight on the post-tensioned beams, without it being specified that such loads were contemplated in the original design.
Knowledge of coercive measures
The hearing on coercive measures against the Espaillat siblings – Antonio and Maribel – was postponed until today , Wednesday, June 18, at 11 a.m.
Both Antonio and Maribel are being charged with manslaughter , injuries and blows due to the collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub.
