Today marks one month since the collapse of the building's roof that left 233 dead , according to authorities.
SANTO DOMINGO. - The property where only ruins remain of what was the Jet Set nightclub, the site of one of the tragedies that has filled the Dominican people with the most grief a month ago today, was seized yesterday by the Attorney General's Office, as part of the investigation being carried out by the Public Ministry to determine the causes of the collapse that resulted in the death of 233 people.
In the early morning of April 8th of this year, merengue singer Rubby Pérez was entertaining at the traditional Monday dance party of the legendary Jet Set, when around 1:00 a.m. the roof of the establishment collapsed, causing the death of 233 people and injuries to about 200.
A sign with the corporate image of the Public Ministry, Directorate of Custody and Administration of Seized Assets, of the Attorney General's Office, was placed yesterday on the front and side of the building in ground zero, where a month ago merengue, a popular national rhythm, was dressed in mourning and pain and where tears settled among the hundreds of desperate families who came to the place looking for a relative.
What does "to seize" mean?
According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, when referring to a judicial or administrative authority, to seize is "to deprive someone of some of their property as a consequence of its relation to a crime, offense or administrative infraction.".
At noon yesterday, Wednesday, May 7, several men dressed in military attire guarded the site, while some curious onlookers loitered around the area, which has been cordoned off both in the front and side, where only ruins, extinguished candles and withered flowers remain of what for more than 30 years represented the main symbol of good dancing in Santo Domingo.
The investigation
The National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (ONESVIE) is the entity in charge of the investigation. Yesterday, Wednesday, it confirmed that the work is progressing well and that the team in charge has sufficient technical and structural resources to conduct a thorough investigation, which will be presented to the Attorney General's Office in the coming months.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has also opened a criminal investigation to determine the causes of the collapse. The investigation is being led by the Prosecution Directorate, headed by Deputy Prosecutor Wilson Camacho, in conjunction with the National District Prosecutor's Office, the jurisdiction where the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8.
For its part, the National District Prosecutor's Office reported that the number of complaints against the management of the Jet Set nightclub has risen to 38.
