Carwin Javie Molleja, a survivor of the tragic nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic, has shared his harrowing experience, painting a picture of “total chaos” and unimaginable loss. The disaster, which occurred early Tuesday morning at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, claimed the lives of at least 221 people.
Molleja was at the club with his mother, Carmin, celebrating their reunion after three years apart, attending a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez. What began as a night of joy quickly turned into a nightmare.
“What I have in my head are the screams, the loud sound of the ceiling falling in, my mom’s screams asking me if I’m OK, me asking her if she’s OK,” Molleja recounted. He remembers noticing debris falling from the ceiling moments before the catastrophic collapse. “No-one thought that because a small stone fell the entire roof was going to collapse,” he said.
In the immediate aftermath, Molleja and his mother were struck by falling debris but managed to escape the collapsing structure. However, their friends Jessica and her sister remained trapped inside. Driven by desperation, Molleja returned to the club to search for them amidst the chaos.
“The stones were huge. I felt useless,” he lamented, describing the scene inside the club. He repeatedly called out Jessica’s name, but his calls went unanswered. Molleja’s attempts to reach paramedics were also futile.
Emergency services arrived swiftly, but Molleja noted the lack of heavy machinery to remove the debris, hampering rescue efforts. He remained at the scene for over an hour, torn between searching for his friends and ensuring his injured mother’s safety.
Tragically, Jessica and her sister were later found dead in the rubble. Molleja expressed deep regret at not being able to save them. “It was horrible not being able to help her. I yelled her name, but she didn’t answer. It feels awful not being able to do anything.”
The collapse has left the community in mourning and raised questions about safety regulations and building maintenance. The survivor’s account underscores the sheer horror of the event and the lasting impact it will have on those who witnessed it.
