At least 18 people died as a result of the roof of a nightclub collapsing in the Dominican Republic.

The cause of the incident at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo is still unknown.

Authorities stated on Tuesday that at least 18 people have died and more than 120 have been injured due to the collapse of the roof of a nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic. Juan Manuel Mendez, the director of the emergency operations center, said that rescue teams are searching the rubble of the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo for individuals who may still be alive. "We estimate that many are still alive. Therefore, the officials here will not give up until there is not a single person left under the rubble," he said. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi, was among the deceased. The cause of the roof collapse during the concert of merengue singer Rubby Perez early Tuesday morning is still unclear. Authorities said Perez is among the injured. His manager, Enrique Paulino, told reporters that the concert started shortly before midnight, the roof collapsed nearly an hour later, and the group's saxophonist was killed. "Everything happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner," he said, adding that he initially thought there was an earthquake. President Luis Abinader stated on X that all rescue teams are "working tirelessly" to help those affected by the earthquake. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been monitoring the situation minute by minute since it happened." Abinader arrived at the scene late Tuesday and embraced those searching for their friends and family in tears. At a hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading the names of survivors as a crowd gathered, shouting the names of their loved ones. In video footage that appears to have been taken inside the club and shared on social media, several people can be seen looking at the ceiling and quickly moving away from the dance floor. In one of the videos, which could not be independently verified by Euronews, screams are heard before the recording goes dark.