Nelsy Cruz, the sister of retired Major League Baseball star Nelson Cruz, was among dozens killed when a night club ceiling collapsed in the Dominican Republic early Tuesday morning.
‘With profound pain, the Cruz Martínez family informs the passing of our beloved sister, mother, daughter, aunt and friend: Nelsy M. Cruz Martínez who in her life moved with dedication, commitment and love for her people and community,’ read a translated death notice posted on Instagram by her seven-time All-Star brother.
Nelsy was a local celebrity in her own right as governor of the Montecristi province.
She was among at least 44 individuals who died at the Jet Set nightclub – a group that also includes former MLB relief pitcher Octavio Dotel as well as utility man Tony Blanco. Meanwhile, 150 victims are believed to have been hospitalized.
Dominican Minister of Culture Roberto Ángel Salcedo also confirmed Nelsy’s death on Tuesday.
‘I deeply regret the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi province, which occurred in the tragic event at the Jet Set nightclub,’ he wrote on X.
Nelsy Cruz (right), the sister of retired Major League Baseball star Nelson Cruz (left), was among dozens killed when a night club ceiling collapsed in the Dominican Republic
Nelsy was a local celebrity in her own right as governor of the Montecristi province
Rescue workers search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday
‘Her death is an irreparable loss for her community and for the entire country. Nelsy was a committed public servant, a woman of steadfast leadership, and an unwavering ally in initiatives aimed at strengthening our identity and development.’
Merengue singer Rubby Perez was performing at the club early Tuesday morning when the roof collapsed. A cause of the destruction has not been revealed, but the club owner said in an online statement that he and his team are ‘fully and transparently cooperating with the relevant authorities to assist the victims and clarify what happened.’
Juan Manuel Méndez, the Dominican Republic’s director of emergency management operations, stressed Tuesday that much more work needs to be done before a full extent of the damage can be made.
He also remains hopeful that rescuers will still be able to find survivors.
‘We are still working, searching for people in the rubble,’ Méndez said. ‘We presume that many of them are still alive, that’s why the authorities here with their teams will not stop until we find the last person in that rubble.’
Earlier on Tuesday, Dotel was reported as having been rescued from the rubble after screaming for help. But Dominican newspaper Diario Libre said Dotel arrived at Armed Forces Central Hospital with no vital signs and was subsequently declared dead.
Dotel, who won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, had been heard screaming for help by first responders, according to Dominican television station Supercanal.
‘The death of former Major League Baseball player Octavio Dotel has been confirmed,’ the publication wrote in an update on X.
