One year after the catastrophic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub on the first hour of 8 April 2025, survivors, grieving families, and citizens from across the country will gather for a series of commemorative activities. 236 persons died and at least 180 were seriously injured. The event stands as one of the nation’s most devastating structural failures and left a profound mark on the Dominican social fabric.
The National District City Council declared 8 April 2026 a day of mourning. Among the dead in the roof collapse of the Jet Set nightclub was Christian Tejeda, director of the Urban Infrastructure Department and Bianka Reyes, operational coordinator for the Municipal Cleanup Department.
The memorial acts began at 10pm on Tuesday, 7 April 2026 with a candlelight vigil in front of the nightclub’s ruins under the falling rain. The plan was to light 236 candles, each representing a life lost in the disaster. In a symbolic gesture of respect and mourning, the candles were set to be extinguished at 12:44am, the exact moment the structure gave way.
The commemorative agenda is set to continue on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, with the following scheduled events:
• 10am: A memorial mass officiated by Father Rogelio Cruz.
• 11am: A formal tribute ceremony dedicated to the victims.
• 5pm: A final eucharistic service to close the day of remembrance.
For the commemoration of the first year of the tragedy, Wilfrido Vargas will be releasing a merengue in the name of his friend, Rubby Perez, who was performing that evening what would be his last merengue concert. His fans came from all around the country to listen to his catchy music.
Road closures and detours for the memorials
In anticipation of the large crowds expected for the first-anniversary commemorations of the Jet Set tragedy, authorities have announced significant traffic changes in the surrounding National District neighborhoods. These measures are designed to ensure the safety of participants while maintaining essential vehicle flow through the corridor.
The National District City Council (ADN) and transit officials informed the public that a section of Avenida Independencia will be temporarily closed to traffic. The road is closed from 9pm on Monday, 6 April through 12pm on Thursday, 9 April 2026. The affected area is the stretch between Calle San Juan Bautista and Avenida Núñez de Cáceres.
Likewise, contingency plan has been set for the Avenida de la Salud, also in the capital city. To mitigate the impact of the closure on one of the city’s primary east-west arteries, the Avenida de la Salud in Mirador Sur Park will undergo a temporary change in usage. From 6 April through 9 April, the road will remain open exclusively for vehicular traffic on a continuous basis. Consequently, pedestrian access to this specific roadway, normally a popular area for joggers and recreation, will be suspended during this period to prioritize traffic fluidity.
Authorities urge motorists to plan their routes in advance and exercise caution near the memorial site, where citizens and various organizations will be gathering to honor the memory of the victims.
To mark the anniversary, the Espaillat family issued a note expressing their solidarity with the victims.
Noticias SIN carries a story in its coverage of the anniversary date of one victim who said he was offered RD$500,000 in compensation by the JetSet Club operators. He says he has spent over RD$3 million in medical fees.
Legal proceedings and criminal charges
In the wake of the disaster, the Public Ministry has formally charged siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat. The defendants face accusations of involuntary manslaughter as well as involuntary battery and wounding, crimes categorized under Articles 319 and 320 of the Dominican Penal Code.
Nevertheless, the actual start of the hearings has been consistently postponed with the victims convened to the courthouse time and again only to hear that for different reasons the case is postponed. The next date set for the trial start is 20 April 2026.
The case, which has drawn intense public scrutiny, is supported by hundreds of pieces of evidence compiled by prosecutors to establish criminal liability. Investigators determined that the defendants significantly aggravated the structural risk by overloading the roof with high-volume air conditioning units and water tanks. These installations were reportedly completed without technical load-bearing studies. Furthermore, the prosecution alleges the owners ignored internal warnings regarding the deteriorating state of the ceiling, choosing to prioritize cost-cutting measures over public safety.
Expert findings
The official indictment incorporates findings from a specialized team of experts appointed by the Public Ministry to conduct a forensic analysis of the building. The findings of these specialists are expected to be pivotal as the Dominican judicial system seeks to provide accountability for the 416 total victims of the collapse.
The Onesvie technical report was prepared by Leonardo de Jesús Reyes Madera (an earthquake-resistant structural engineer), Eduardo A. Fierro (president of BFP Engineers) and Máximo José Corominas Quezada (a forensic pathology engineer).
The defense of Antonio and Maribel Espaillat has secured permission from the presiding judge to present a new technical study.
In a televised interview with Edith Febles after the collapse, Antonio Espaillat denied knowledge that the roof had serious problems. This is the only time that the representative for the owners of the club has spoken in person to the general public.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Dia
El Dia
El Dia
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Acento
El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional
CDN
Hoy
Somos Pueblo
Somos Pueblo Live on the memorial
N Digital
N Digital
Camila Garcia
Edith Febles interview with Antonio Espailat
Noticias SIN
Noticias SIN
Noticias SIN
Wilfrido Vargas
DR1 News
8 April 2026