Carwin Javie Molleja, who survived the Jet Set nightclub disaster alongside his mother, shared his traumatic experience of the ceiling collapse amidst chaos, as he desperately sought to save his trapped friends.
Heart-Wrenching Accounts Emerge from Santo Domingo Nightclub Tragedy
Heart-Wrenching Accounts Emerge from Santo Domingo Nightclub Tragedy
A survivor recounts harrowing moments during the Jet Set nightclub ceiling collapse that claimed over 220 lives.
On Tuesday morning, tragedy engulfed Santo Domingo's Jet Set nightclub, claiming the lives of at least 221 individuals when the ceiling unexpectedly collapsed. Carwin Javie Molleja, a 32-year-old percussionist who had come to the Dominican Republic eight years ago, was present at the club to celebrate a long-awaited reunion with his mother, Carmin, after three years apart.
While enjoying a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, Carwin saw a small object fall from the ceiling. Initially unconcerned, he quickly found himself in the midst of a catastrophic event. "What I can only remember are the screams, the loud crashing of the ceiling, and my mother calling for me," Carwin recounted.
Standing near the stage, both he and his mother were hit by debris but fortunately avoided severe injuries. In the ensuing chaos, Carwin instinctively grabbed his mother to protect her and together they managed to escape outside. However, the fate of Carwin’s friend Jessica and her sister remained unknown, compelling him to re-enter the club to find them.
Inside, the scene was frantic as Carwin cried out for Jessica, but silence greeted his pleas. "I felt utterly powerless to assist those trapped beneath the rubble," he lamented. Amid the disarray, he witnessed rescuers working to save those injured although he felt helpless as he made frantic attempts to contact emergency services.
After an hour and a half, Carwin left the area to take his distressed mother home, all while searching for any sign of Jessica. Tragically, later that day, the bodies of Jessica and her sister were located within the debris. The pain of not being able to help his friend weighed heavily on Carwin, who expressed deep regret for the circumstances.
As a community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating incident, the echo of that night remains a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the bonds of friendship.
