The vigil organized by Dominicans in the diaspora began on April 17 at Hunting Park, Philadelphia, with the national anthem of the Dominican Republic, in memory of the victims of the tragedy at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo. The collapse of the club’s roof, which occurred on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez—who died in the incident—left a devastating toll.
Just days after the tragic event, many attendees, dressed in black, gathered in Philadelphia to express their solidarity with their Dominican brothers and sisters. Most offered prayers for the victims and for the country as a whole.
Dominicans living abroad organized the vigil to show their support for the victims and their families. Maridarlyn González, president of the local chapter of LULAC, stated: “Our community is very close-knit, and it’s unfortunate that this happened. We support each other through this tragedy.”
José Romero, representing INDEX and sent by the Office of the President of the Dominican Republic, said: “We Dominicans are united—those living on the island and those here in Philadelphia. Together, through prayer, we will move forward.”
One month after the collapse at Jet Set, investigations are still ongoing, and many questions remain about what caused the tragedy, which claimed 233 lives and left more than 150 injured. So far, over 50 lawsuits have been filed, and victims’ families and loved ones continue to demand justice.
Among the deceased were public figures, married couples, and four individuals who lived in New Jersey. Two of them were identified as Jennifer Contreras and Antonia Ignacio Douglas, known in the Perth Amboy community as “Violeta.” Perth Amboy, Elizabeth, and Paterson are among the cities with the largest Dominican populations in the state, according to data from Univision 65.
In response to the incident, Acting Governor Tanesha Way, representing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, signed Orden Ejecutiva 385: “New Jersey is the proud home of a strong and vibrant Dominican community, many of whom knew someone who died or was injured in the nightclub collapse,” Univision 65 Philadelphia.
In that context, Impacto spoke with Enerolina Meléndez, president of the Dominican Bodega Owners Association, who also helped organize the recent vigil: “We are praying as a community, hoping that our people find understanding in this difficult time. We trust that soon the truth will come out so we can truly know what happened and find peace.”
Her words were filled with hope, though she admitted that many bodega owners were directly affected, as some lost family members in the tragedy.
Although there are no activities currently scheduled, the memory of what has come to be known globally as The Jet Set Tragedy remains etched in the minds of Dominicans in the diaspora. The community continues to strength from unity, empathy, and the shared commitment to support one another through grief.
