A roof that collapsed in a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic and Killed 232 people this month I had filtration problems for decades and had repeatedly set the leg with a plasterboard, according to its owner.
Antonio Espaillat, who also serves as manager of the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, spoke with the local television station Telesystem on Wednesday in his first interview since then. The Disaster of April 8.
Espaillat told a journalist with the news program the day that the employees had added a new plasterboard to the ceiling hours before the collapse.
He pointed out that the plaster plaques had fallen repeatedly over the years for reasons that include water that leaked through the club’s air conditioning units. However, Espaillat said no one inspected the roof or water leaks.
“We always bought plasterboard. Always,” said Espaillat, who spoke moderately through the interview of almost an hour.
A spokeswoman for Espaillat did not return a message for comment Seijs an interview with him.
Espaillat said he learned of collapse when his sister called him under the rubble, trapped along with hundreds of others Attend a concert by the beloved meringue singer Rubby Pérez, Who was among those killed.
“For the families of the victims, I mean I’m sorry. I’m very sorry,” said Espaillat. “I am completely destroyed.”
‘Everyone surprised us’
Espaillat said he was 6 when his mother founded the legendary club 52 years ago. Later, the club moved to a space occupied by a closed cinema and remained in that place for 30 years until the collapse.
He said there were six units of air conditioning on the ceiling, plus three water tanks. An electric plant was installed in an adjacent room, not on the roof, he added.
Every six to eight years, a specialized WolderProver The Roof crew, with the last waterproofing approximately one month before the collapse, he said.
The heavy Woofers who retired music on Jet Set, known for their meringue parties held every Monday, were on the floor, he said.
Espaillat said that if there was something I could have done to avoid collapse, he would have done it.
“There was no warning, nothing. They all surprised us,” he said.
‘I’m going to face everything’
The Dominican government has created a committee that includes local and international experts responsible for investigating collapse.
Around 515 people were in Jet Set when the roof fell on the crowd, according to Espaillat.
In the 53 hours after disaster, the teams rescued 189 survivors. The boxes of others were hospitalized.
The 232 victims include seven doctors; a retired UN official; Former MLB players Dotel Octavio and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera; and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the province of Montecristi and the sister of seven times there Nelson Cruz“
At least three demands have a filed leg.
Espaillat, who said he generally attended the meringue parties of Jet Set’s Monday, was called to Las Vegas for a convention when his sister called.
“How can a roof collapse?” He remembered asking himself while flying back to the Dominican Republic.
Espaillat said he did not immediately visit the site upon arrival because the officials worried about their safety, noting that the people on the scene were angry.
He said that it has been scoria sprinkles the disaster, and that has spoken with the families of his employees and some of the victim’s relationships.
“I’m going to face everything,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Information
Research on what collapse based collapse could take a couple of months and has raised doubts about the safety of infrastructure in Santo Domingo and beyond.
There is currently no government agency responsible for inspecting private companies in the Dominican Republic, although President Luis Abinader is expected to announce that last week.
Yamil Castillo, a structural engineer and vice president of the Company of Engineers of Puerto Rico, said that water leaks can be extremely harmful and must be attended immediately.
Castillo, who is not involved in the collapse investigation, warned that the water leans in the different materials that make up a roof can weigh it, in addition to anything else that is placed on the roof, including the air conditioning units.
Salado air also causes corrosion and roof damage, he said.
“These leaks should have a fixed bone,” Castillo said, adding that replacing the plasterboard was not enough.
