Amid celebration and joy, Carwin Javie Molleja faced a nightmare as chaos erupted in the Jet Set nightclub when the ceiling collapsed, reflecting both tragedy and the desperate attempts for rescue.
**Tragic Nightclub Ceiling Collapse Shakes Santo Domingo: Survivor's Harrowing Account**
**Tragic Nightclub Ceiling Collapse Shakes Santo Domingo: Survivor's Harrowing Account**
A survivor recounts the horror of the Jet Set nightclub ceiling collapse that claimed the lives of many, including friends and fellow revelers.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a night of celebration at Santo Domingo's Jet Set nightclub turned into a scene of absolute horror. Carwin Javie Molleja, 32, was celebrating a long-awaited reunion with his mother, Carmin, after three years apart when tragedy struck. Just after 1:00 AM, a small stone fell from the ceiling, a precursor to the catastrophic event that was about to unfold. "No one anticipated that a small stone would lead to the entire roof collapsing," Carwin recalled.
As the percussionist enjoyed a concert by merengue artist Rubby Pérez, suddenly, the club's ceiling came crashing down. "I remember the screams, the deafening noise of the ceiling caving in, and my mom's frantic calls to check if I was alright," he said. Although both Carwin and Carmin were injured by falling debris, they managed to escape alongside the terrified crowd rushing toward exits.
In the midst of the chaos, Carwin lost sight of his friend Jessica and her sister, who were still trapped inside. Ignoring his own safety, he rushed back into the claustrophobic horror to find them, calling out and desperately searching, but received no response. "The stones were immense, and I felt utterly helpless as I watched others pull out the injured," he recounted, witnessing scenes that would haunt him forever.
Responders arrived quickly, yet the scene remained one of turmoil and desperation. "People were frantic; they were trying to rescue others as ambulances kept arriving," he said. Carwin felt a sense of urgency but had to prioritize getting his mother home, who was in shock and pain. "I wanted to keep searching for Jessica, but my responsibility was to my mom," he justified.
Tragically, the day after the collapse, both Jessica and her sister's bodies were recovered from the rubble, leaving Carwin consumed by grief. "It's devastating not being able to save her," he lamented, expressing deep regret for the circumstances that left him powerless.
With the death toll rising to at least 221, this disaster has left a community in mourning, underlining the urgency for structural safety in public venues. Carwin's story is not just a personal tragedy; it resonates with the collective heartbreak of families and friends grappling with loss, as the aftermath of Jet Set nightclub serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life amidst celebration.
As the percussionist enjoyed a concert by merengue artist Rubby Pérez, suddenly, the club's ceiling came crashing down. "I remember the screams, the deafening noise of the ceiling caving in, and my mom's frantic calls to check if I was alright," he said. Although both Carwin and Carmin were injured by falling debris, they managed to escape alongside the terrified crowd rushing toward exits.
In the midst of the chaos, Carwin lost sight of his friend Jessica and her sister, who were still trapped inside. Ignoring his own safety, he rushed back into the claustrophobic horror to find them, calling out and desperately searching, but received no response. "The stones were immense, and I felt utterly helpless as I watched others pull out the injured," he recounted, witnessing scenes that would haunt him forever.
Responders arrived quickly, yet the scene remained one of turmoil and desperation. "People were frantic; they were trying to rescue others as ambulances kept arriving," he said. Carwin felt a sense of urgency but had to prioritize getting his mother home, who was in shock and pain. "I wanted to keep searching for Jessica, but my responsibility was to my mom," he justified.
Tragically, the day after the collapse, both Jessica and her sister's bodies were recovered from the rubble, leaving Carwin consumed by grief. "It's devastating not being able to save her," he lamented, expressing deep regret for the circumstances that left him powerless.
With the death toll rising to at least 221, this disaster has left a community in mourning, underlining the urgency for structural safety in public venues. Carwin's story is not just a personal tragedy; it resonates with the collective heartbreak of families and friends grappling with loss, as the aftermath of Jet Set nightclub serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life amidst celebration.
