The daughter of a well-known merengue artist recalled the moments after a nightclub roof collapsed in the Dominican Republic, later claiming her father’s life.

Zulinka Pérez said rescuers had located her 69-year-old father, musician Rubby Pérez. “It was because he is [sic] singing while trapped that they found him,” Zulinka told the Spanish-language publication Diario Libre on April 8, 2025.

Her father, a renowned merengue artist had been performing at the popular Jet Set Mondays event when the nightclub roof gave way around 1 a.m., resulting in chaos and trapping dozens.

Recalling the moments before the collapse, she said Abby reacted to what seemed like a disturbance in the crowd. “Daddy told me, ‘My daughter, stand over here — it looks like they’re fighting,’ and at that moment, everything collapsed like the Twin Towers,” she recounted.

At the time of her statement, Zulinka said she had not received any further updates on his condition. She also reported that one musician had died and another was injured, though their names were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Emergency Operations Center (COE) director Juan Manuel Méndez, said their team had not found any body matching Rubby’s description during the initial search.

Following statements from both Zulinka and Juan Manuel, Rubby’s manager, Enrique Paulino, confirmed that the singer had died. Rubby’s Instagram profile picture was also changed to black. No other details were released.

Amid news of Rubby’s passing, Juan Manuel also confirmed that the overall death toll had risen to 66, with search and recovery efforts still ongoing. He expressed the government’s concern over the growing casualties and the impact of the event.

“Unfortunately, the number of fatalities has been rising, and we reiterate that the government of President Luis Abinader feels deeply distressed and, above all, appalled by this event that occurred early this morning,” Juan Manuel said.

As previously reported, at least 27 people died and more than 150 were injured during the concert. Hundreds had gathered to see Rubby perform live when part of the ceiling caved in, trapping dozens beneath the rubble in one of the worst nightclub tragedies in the nation’s history.

At the time of reporting, it was stated that the roof at Jet Set gave way around 12:44 a.m. during the event, triggering panic as a large section fell on the crowd. The venue, known for its Monday night dance music concerts, was filled with guests enjoying the live show when disaster struck.

Emergency officials confirmed that more than 150 individuals have been injured, and many others remain missing as the search for survivors continues.

While the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation, Rubby, and at least 121 other concertgoers have been treated at area hospitals.

Rubby’s daughter Zulinka revealed earlier that her husband, who performed as one of her father’s backup singers, protected her and urged her to leave. He suffered a broken leg in the process.

“My husband, who is another backup singer, threw himself on top of me, and told me: Mami, get out, so that the child is not left alone if this completely falls down, and I got out as I could, but Daddy is still there,” she said.

Enrique, Rubby’s manager, recounted the terrifying moments after the roof gave way. Wearing a blood-stained shirt, Enrique told reporters the concert started shortly before midnight and the collapse happened almost an hour later. The group’s saxophonist was among those killed.

“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” Enrique said, while also explaining that he initially believed the vibrations were caused by an earthquake.

First responders are working continuously to locate and assist anyone who may still be trapped under the debris. Authorities deployed around 400 search and rescue workers to comb through the disaster.

COE director Juan Manuel revealed that more than 100 ambulance trips had been made to hospitals across Santo Domingo.

Some of these trips carried multiple patients at once due to the overwhelming number of injuries. The COE director expressed cautious optimism that more survivors could still be found. Just weeks ago, a soccer star died while trying to save people during a nightclub fire.

Meanwhile, the Jet Set Club issued a public statement describing the event as a tragedy that has deeply affected not just the venue but all Dominicans.

“The loss of human lives leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay,” they wrote, adding that they are cooperating fully with local authorities and have appointed María Elena Núñez as their official spokesperson during the crisis.

“We share their pain as if it were our own, because we too are in mourning,” the club continued in its message of condolences and solidarity. Officials urge the public to avoid the area as recovery efforts continue and families await updates about their missing loved ones.

This tragedy underscores the other catastrophes that have been happening all around the world. As reported previously, a tragic plane crash occurred in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 29, when a turboprop aircraft struck a home, leaving no survivors.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the plane as a SOCATA TBM-700. It went down around 12:20 p.m. local time, just six minutes before its scheduled arrival at Anoka County-Blaine Airport.

The plane had departed from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa earlier that morning, with flight data showing it took off at 11:12 a.m. local time. The aircraft was expected to land between 12:11 p.m. and 12:28 p.m. but was instead recorded crashing at around 12:20 p.m.

The plane, registered to DGW Enterprises LLC, was traveling at an altitude of 28,000 feet and filed a speed of 329 mph during its journey. Its route followed the ROGAN LAL AMORY Q110 JOKKY flight path.

The plane was nearing its destination when it went down in a residential neighborhood, igniting a fire that engulfed a home. Brooklyn Park spokeswoman Risikat Adesaogun confirmed that no one aboard survived, though the exact number of passengers remains unknown.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledged the tragedy on X, stating, “My team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park, and we are monitoring the situation closely.”

The crash will be investigated by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB will take the lead in the investigation and release updates as new information emerges.

The residents of the Brooklyn Park home struck by the plane miraculously escaped without injury. Kenneth Tobacman, the homeowner, recounted the terrifying moments after the crash.

“We got out alive,” Tobacman said, though the family’s cat was lost in the fire. Their dog was saved. At the time of the crash, Tobacman’s wife was out walking the dog while he was alone inside, eating lunch. “There was a very loud boom. A piece of the ceiling fell through,” he said. “I had no idea what the hell was going on. The lights went out.”

Within seconds, flames spread rapidly. Grabbing his phone, Tobacman fled the house, unable to put on shoes as smoke filled the air. “By the time I got to the front door, I couldn’t see the front door,” he said.

Firefighters from Brooklyn Park, West Metro, Plymouth, Fridley, and Osseo responded and battled the flames for an hour before bringing the fire under control. Tobacman described the aftermath as devastating. The home he had lived in since 2009 was destroyed. “There’s nothing left,” he said.

He and his wife were left with only the clothes they were wearing and a dog leash. However, friends, family, and the Red Cross quickly stepped in to offer support.

Nearby resident Henry Tita recalled hearing the plane moments before the crash. He was outside preparing to leave for work when he noticed the sound of a plane circling overhead. Tita mentioned that the sky was too cloudy to see the plane, but the sound indicated it was alarmingly low.

Within seconds, he heard a loud noise and told his in-laws that a plane had crashed. When he rushed to the scene, the house was already engulfed in flames and thick black smoke. Tita noted that the plane was not visible amid the smoke.

He recorded a short video at the site, where he was overheard expressing sadness and calling the incident “very, very tragic.” Jesse Boyd, who lives just a few doors away, was about 10 minutes from home when he received an alert from his ADT security system.

As he returned, he passed several emergency vehicles and followed them. Boyd recalled feeling extremely worried as he approached the scene. Upon his arrival, smoke was pouring from the ruins of Tobacman’s home. A neighbor informed Boyd that the plane had struck the house directly.

Just three weeks ago, on Sunday, March 9, emergency crews responded after another aircraft went down in Pennsylvania at 3:18 p.m. in the parking lot of Brethren Village, a retirement community in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Fire Chief Scott Little, alongside several officials, provided details on the crash and the number of people affected.

“The five passengers were the only individuals to sustain injuries and were transported for medical treatment. No individuals on the ground were injured. Additionally, there were no deaths,” officials stated in a press release shared on Facebook.

Released air traffic control audio revealed that the pilot reported an open door and requested permission to land. However, communication appeared to be a struggle. The pilot said, “Lancaster Tower, I cannot hear you with the wind, so we’re going to return to 26. We’re going to downwind.”

The air traffic controller later announced that the pilot was “clear to land” on runway 26. However, shortly after, the situation took a turn for the worse. The air traffic controller was then heard urgently saying, “Pull up. Rescue 1, Lancaster Tower. The aircraft is down just behind the terminal in the parking lot tree area.”

Meanwhile, witnesses saw the aircraft struggling before it crashed. Brian Pipkin reportedly told CNN that the plane climbed before suddenly turning left and nose-diving.

He ran to the crash site and saw the cockpit engulfed in flames. The heat, he said, felt “like opening an oven set to 500 degrees when you open the door and it hits your face.”

Pipkin described the intense heat as overwhelming as he moved closer to the wreckage. “I was getting closer, praying to God that nothing would blow up,” he recalled.

Emergency crews quickly arrived, extinguished the flames, and secured the area. Authorities confirmed that while no buildings were structurally damaged, several cars were affected.

Lancaster County’s Department of Public Safety assisted at the scene as officials transitioned into the Recovery and Investigation Phase. “The crash site remains secure while federal agencies conduct their investigation,” the officials noted.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on X that the State Police were helping local first responders at the plane crash site near Lancaster Airport. “All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available,” he added.

The Lancaster plane crash is the most recent in Pennsylvania. Back in January, a similar crash occurred in Northeast Philadelphia.

A doorbell camera in the area captured the terrifying moment a medical plane crashed onto a busy street, killing seven people, including a driver. The widely shared footage shows the impact and explosion as bystanders react in shock.

Recorded on January 31, the video shows two people standing outside talking, when a loud noise suddenly grabs their attention. They turn toward the sky just as an aircraft appears, plummeting rapidly before crashing nearby. The explosion briefly flashes white across the screen, followed by a thunderous blast. The witnesses rush inside for safety.

The chilling footage sparked widespread discussion, with many describing it as surreal and deeply unsettling. “So scary. It’s like a scene out of a movie. I can’t believe this happened. Praying for everyone,” one user said.

Another shared, “I know it was a plane, but it doesn’t look like it. I’m sure it was the cloud coverage, but he way it appears out of nowhere and spikes into the ground. It seems like it’s moving way faster than a small plane can.[sic]” Another exclaimed, “Can imagine that being the scariest thing ever!!!”

Many online viewers speculated about the crash, with some believing the plane was already on fire before impact. Others noted that a witness in the footage appeared to react to an unusual sound just before the aircraft went down.

Some described the video as one of the most horrifying they had ever seen, expressing concern for traumatized residents. Another expressed sympathy for the victims, especially after learning that a child was among those on board.

Meanwhile, some questioned the aircraft’s speed and trajectory, suggesting it was moving too fast for a typical small plane.

As reported by AP, authorities confirmed that the Learjet 55 was carrying six passengers from Mexico, including a child who had spent months receiving medical treatment. The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport but crashed just miles away.

The impact set off a massive fireball that damaged multiple vehicles and homes and shook the neighborhood. A person in a car was also killed, bringing the total death toll to seven.

The crash occurred just after 6 p.m. on Friday, less than three miles from the airport. Selkuc Koc, a waiter at a nearby diner, recalled hearing a loud boom and initially thinking it was a “thunderstorm.” When he looked outside, he saw thick smoke and flames rising into the air, comparing the scene to a gas station explosion.

The force of the blast was so strong that debris flew into nearby buildings. A diner customer was injured when a heavy metal object crashed through a window, adding to the chaos.

By Saturday morning, February 1, officials reported 19 injuries in addition to the fatalities. Most victims had been treated and released, but authorities warned that the casualty count could still change.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said officials were still working to identify everyone who was on the streets when the crash happened, making it hard to confirm the final number of victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation, collecting debris and assessing damage across the four-to-six-block crash site. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described it as a “high-impact crash” that left the aircraft “highly fragmented.”

At the time, investigators were still searching for the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide key insights into what happened. Given the force of the impact, officials feared it may be damaged or fragmented but remained hopeful it could be recovered and analyzed.

In addition to the mother and child reported by AP, Fox News identified the remaining people on board as the pilot, copilot, physician, and paramedic, all of whom were Mexican nationals.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri before crashing shortly after takeoff. As investigators worked to determine the cause, an expert analyzed the footage and possible factors behind the accident.

“The plane was out of the crew’s control. It was not controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). May have been a mechanical malfunction of the stabilizer, elevator, trim or even a load shift rearward within the cabin,” said Retired Philadelphia pilot John Anderson.

Anderson suggested that if the aircraft carried a stretcher and it was not properly secured, it could have rolled backward, shifting the plane’s center of gravity. “This would cause the nose to raise and stall the wing. In that case, the nose will drop with the angle in the video,” he explained.

The former pilot also added, “Because it was right after takeoff and the initial climb, I would say it was likely aswing stall. There could be a number of factors that would cause a stall. Could have been a runaway trim, malfunctioning stabilizer.” At the time, authorities continued to investigate as they gathered more evidence and assessed the damage.