The death toll from the nightclub collapse in Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo has reached 221, with over 180 others injured, and distraught families gathered outside an overwhelmed morgue, desperately seeking answers about their loved ones.
The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Perez at the Jet Set nightclub, and the singer was among those killed in the incident, his manager said. His funeral, attended by President Luis Abinader and Latin music icon Juan Luis Guerra, took place on Thursday.
Local authorities launched an official investigation on Friday, meaning many of the victims' families have to wait for days to be able to take their loved ones home for burial.
Among them, Roger De La Rosa was witnessed pleading with the authorities to let him know if his sister is at the morgue and when he is going to be able to get her body.
According to him, he came to the site shortly after the incident happened. He told China Global Television Network correspondent that his sister was a professor.
"She was 45 years old," he said.
Jet Set is a popular nightclub in Santo Domingo which regularly hosts dance music concerts on Monday evenings.
Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, on Tuesday declared three days of national mourning to honor the victims, while an investigation to determine the cause of the deadly collapse is already underway.
Death toll in Dominican nightclub collapse reaches 221
China Media Group (CMG) hosted a cultural exchange event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, coinciding with Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit and highlighting efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi sent a congratulatory message to the event, commending CMG's role as a vital bridge in fostering mutual understanding between countries. He also lauded CMG's efforts in promoting cultural exchange. During the event, CMG signed multiple cooperation agreements with Malaysian institutions, including the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Center of Regional Strategic Studies, the International Zheng He Academy, Radio Televisyen Malaysia, and Bernama TV. These agreements aim to strengthen academic exchange, personnel exchanges, media initiatives, and think tank research between the two sides.
Several initiatives to promote cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia were unveiled during the event. Among them was a program blending movies and tourism, aimed at inspiring Malaysians to explore China's long history, brilliant culture, and magnificent landscapes.
Additionally, the Malaysian segment of a campaign themed around overseas giant pandas was launched, symbolizing the deepening ties between the two countries.
CMG also introduced a program inviting reporters from major Malaysian media outlets to visit China, offering them a firsthand look at the country's dynamic modernization and the flourishing China-Malaysia friendship.
CMG hosts cultural exchange event in Kuala Lumpur to strengthen China-Malaysia ties
