Entertainment
125 Die In Nightclub Roof Collapse In Dominican Republic
Hundreds of rescue workers in the Dominican Republic continue to search for survivors of a roof collapse at a nightclub in the capital, Santo Domingo, where 125 people died and more than 150 were injured.
Officials said the incident happened at the Jet Set club on Tuesday just before 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT).
Head of Emergency Operations Juan Manuel Méndez estimated that his team had “24 to 36 hours left“ to search for survivors under the rubble.
Hundreds of guests were inside the popular venue attending a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez.
Pérez, as well as former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, and a provincial governor are among those who have been confirmed dead.
Mobile phone footage recorded inside the club, verified by the BBC, shows Pérez on stage singing while the man recording can be heard talking.
“Something fell from the ceiling,“ the man recording says, his finger pointing towards the roof.
In the footage, Pérez can be seen looking towards the area pointed out by the man.
Less than 30 seconds later, a noise can be heard, and the recording goes black while a woman shouts, „Dad, what‘s happened to you?“
Relatives have been anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones.
It is unclear how many people were inside the popular venue, but estimates range between 500 and 1,000 people.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on X that at least one US national and multiple legal permanent residents were killed in the roof collapse.
He said that he and his wife, Jeanette, were „united in prayer“ and that the US stands „ready to support our Dominican allies amid this difficult time“.
Emergency workers have demolished one of the club‘s walls to better reach those still buried under the rubble.
Relatives desperate for news of their missing loved ones have been holding vigils at the scene.
Among them was Pérez‘s daughter Zulinka, a backing singer in his merengue band.
She described how she had been on stage, singing with her father when the tragedy unfolded.
Zulinka said she was saved by her husband, who shielded her with his body when the roof collapsed, telling her that she had to make it out „to be there for our son“.
She managed to crawl out from under the rubble, and her husband also made it out alive.
Her 69-year-old father, however, remained trapped for hours.
According to Zulinka, he survived the collapse and guided emergency workers to his location.
They found him singing; he started to sing so they would hear him,“ she told local media.
But around 17:00 local time, more than 16 hours after the tragedy had occurred, Zulinka was informed by rescue workers at the scene that her father had died before they could free him.
His manager later confirmed his death.
Nelsy Cruz also survived the initial impact from the falling debris and was among the first to raise the alarm – by directly calling the president of the Dominican Republic.
The first call the 41-year-old governor of Monte Cristi province placed as she lay injured in the debris was to President Luis Abinader, asking him to send the emergency services to save those around her who were also severely damaged.
Their father said that only after Cruz called the president did Nelsy Cruz call her brother, Nelson Cruz, a seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star.
She later died in hospital from injuries she had sustained from falling glass.
Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, is also among those who died after being pulled from the debris.
The 51-year-old was rescued alive but died on the way to hospital.
It is not yet clear what caused Jet Set‘s roof to collapse.
The club was previously a cinema and had been turned into a music venue hosting regular dance music concerts on Monday nights.
The concerts drew people of all ages, and several athletes, celebrities, and politicians were in attendance on the day of the collapse.
President Abinader has declared three days of national mourning.
-Leadership
Education
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has called for stronger distribution frameworks within Nigeria’s film industry to ensure that locally produced content achieves global visibility.
Dr Husseini made this call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.
Welcoming participants to the festival, Dr Husseini expressed his personal delight at hosting the event in Enugu, his birth state, noting the city’s rich cultural heritage and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s creative landscape.
He commended the festival organisers, particularly the Festival Director, Uche Agbo, for their resilience and commitment in sustaining the initiative.
According to him, the Coal City Film Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform and a must-attend cinematic event in South East Nigeria.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, “Local Stories, Global Screens,” Dr Husseini emphasised the importance of authenticity in storytelling. He noted that films rooted in local realities, languages, and cultural truths often resonate more strongly with global audiences.
He cited notable Nigerian productions such as “King of Boys” by Kemi Adetiba, “The Wedding Party” by Mo Abudu, “Anikulapo” by Kunle Afolayan, “Black Book” by Editi Effiong, and “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji as examples of culturally grounded stories that have gained international recognition on platforms such as Netflix and at global film festivals.
While acknowledging the growth in film production across Nigeria, the NFVCB boss identified distribution as a major bottleneck in the industry. He observed that many high-quality films struggle to reach audiences both locally and internationally due to limited distribution channels.
Dr. Husseini therefore urged film festivals across the country to evolve beyond networking platforms into active marketplaces where filmmakers can secure distribution deals. He stressed that festivals must attract distributors, exhibitors, streaming platforms, and marketers to create tangible opportunities for filmmakers.
“Film festivals must become gateways to distribution where filmmakers leave not just with applause, but with real opportunities,” he said.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment to industry development, Dr. Husseini stated that the NFVCB has continued to reposition itself as a partner in progress by engaging stakeholders, improving classification processes, and promoting a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility.
However, he raised concerns over increasing non-compliance with regulatory requirements, noting that some filmmakers bypass the Board by releasing unclassified films or operating without proper licensing.
He reiterated that all films and video works must be submitted to the NFVCB for classification and registration before being released on any platform, including digital platforms such as YouTube.
“This is a legal obligation, and the Board will not hesitate to take decisive action against defaulters,” he warned, adding that regulation is essential for protecting the industry, audiences, and national values.
Looking ahead, Dr. Husseini assured stakeholders of the Board’s continued collaboration with filmmakers and festival organisers to build a structured, sustainable, and globally competitive Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by commending the organisers of the Coal City Film Festival for their vision and contribution to Nigeria’s cultural economy, urging filmmakers to continue telling authentic stories that can resonate across global screens.
-Leadership
Veteran rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has criticised the use of “Afrobeats” as a catchall term for all African music, calling it misleading.
In a recent interview with Day Genius, the rapper argued that the term is often used to group artistes who lack real talent and rely only on catchy beats.
The rapper also claimed that many artists in this category struggle with live performances and freestyling because they depend too much on autotune and studio effects.
Nollywood actress and comedian, Kudirat Abeniade Soremi, popularly known as Mama No Network, has bought a new car.
She posted on her Instagram page and shared pictures of her new car, congratulating herself.
“Congratulations to me. Your car is next in line for Jesus.
May the celebration never cease in our home. May God surround me and you with people who genuinely love and celebrate God’s gift in your life,” she posted.
Her colleagues and fans congratulated her on this feat. Rejoicing with her, Bimpe Akintunde wrote, “Congratulations, Iye mi
The actress is known for playing a deaf woman and mother in the Yoruba movie industry.
Last year, she was conferred with a chieftaincy title in Texas Ijebuland, which is (Yeye Owu Ojuwo of Ijebuland)
-Leadership
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
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