On April 14, Bronxites gathered at Lou Gehrig Plaza to commemorate more than 220 lives lost to the April 8 roof collapse disaster at Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Hundreds of mourners—joined by over a dozen local elected officials and representatives from the Dominican government—lit candles and waved flags in remembrance of the victims. The Bronx, home to a population that is more than 20% Dominican, stood in solidarity as participants prayed for those who had been enjoying a live performance by merengue star Rubby Pérez when the roof collapsed in the early morning hours. The disaster claimed at least 226 lives and left 150 others injured.
