A New Jersey woman has been identified among the 218 people who tragically lost their lives in a nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic late Tuesday night.
According to a translated statement from the Dominican government, the collapse occurred at Jet Set, a well-known nightclub in Santo Domingo famous for hosting celebrity guests.
Authorities confirmed that 218 individuals were killed, while 189 survivors were rescued from the debris.
“These numbers show the scale of this heartbreaking event and the relentless work of emergency teams who have been dedicated to search, rescue, and recovery efforts since the moment the tragedy struck,” the government stated.
On Wednesday, loved ones confirmed that 26-year-old Jennifer Contreras, a resident of New Jersey, was among the deceased.
“She was my best friend, my partner in everything. We did everything together,” said Luz, a close friend, in an interview with NJ.com. “She wanted me to join her on this trip, but I couldn’t cancel on my clients.”
A GoFundMe page created in Jennifer’s memory describes her as a “kind-hearted, loving, and soft person,” adding that she was “an incredible daughter, sister, friend, cousin, and more.”
Contreras had traveled to Santo Domingo to take a certification course in eyebrow micropigmentation, as she was preparing to launch her own beauty business. She was also there to celebrate both her birthday and that of close family friends.
Her family is now working to raise funds to repatriate her body to the United States for a proper funeral service.
The roof of Jet Set nightclub completely collapsed on Tuesday evening, prompting over 100 emergency calls, many from individuals trapped beneath the rubble. As of Thursday, search and rescue operations were still underway.
Other notable victims of the collapse include former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, and beloved merengue singer Rubby Pérez.
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