SANTO DOMINGO.- One day before the first anniversary of the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub roof, the city is preparing for a vigil that seeks to pause amid the daily noise and remember one of the most painful events in the recent history of the Dominican Republic.
The collapse, which occurred in the early hours of April 8, 2025, left more than 230 dead and nearly 200 injured, leaving a mark on dozens of families and opening a wound that, a year later, remains present in the collective memory.
Return to the starting point
From early Tuesday morning, technicians worked on the stage structure, from which a tribute will be paid to the victims of the tragic event that plunged the entire country into mourning. At the site of the disaster zone, cleaning crews are preparing the area where a vigil will be held, food will be distributed to attendees, and awards will be presented, as Father Rogelio Cruz, one of the organizers of the event, explained to El Inmobiliario .
The event will begin this Tuesday, April 7, with the lighting of candles at 10:00 pm. At 12:44 am, these will be extinguished in a symbolic gesture that coincides with the moment the structure collapsed, one of the most emblematic nightclubs in the country.
The city adapts
Given the expected gathering of people, the Mayor's Office of the National District reiterates the partial closure of Independencia Avenue, in the section between San Juan Bautista Street and Núñez de Cáceres Street.
The measure will be in effect from Monday night until noon on Thursday the 9th of this month, as part of an operation aimed at facilitating mobility in the area during the commemorative activities.
As an alternate route, the Avenida de la Salud, in the Mirador Sur Park, was enabled exclusively for vehicular traffic, while pedestrian access will remain temporarily restricted.
Operation and call for prudence
The National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) confirmed the deployment of a special operation in the area, with measures that will be maintained continuously during the days of commemoration.
Authorities have urged citizens to take alternate routes and plan their journeys in anticipation of increased traffic in the area.
Flags at half-mast and city on vigil for the victims
As part of the commemoration, the Mayor's Office of the National District reported that the Council of Aldermen declared Municipal Mourning through Ordinance 7-2026, in memory of the victims of the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set.
The order states that this Wednesday the flags will fly at half-mast throughout the National District, as a sign of respect for an event that impacted families and generated national shock.
The mayor's office also reiterated its solidarity with the families of the victims, while calling on citizens to respectfully join the commemorative events scheduled in the area.
Prepare the space for memory
In the hours leading up to the event, social media has served as a window into the preparations: renewal of photographs placed around the venue, cleaning and paving of streets, and organization of the route that will be traveled by those attending, in addition to a stage that is already being prepared for the occasion.
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