At least 98 people have been killed and more than 150 injured after a roof collapsed at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santo Domingo. A provincial governor, Octavio Dotel, was among the victims. Dotel, 51, died on the way to the hospital after being pulled from the debris. According to the officials, the incident happened in the early hours on Tuesday at a concert by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez at the Jet Set nightclub. Hundreds of people were inside the venue and some 400 rescuers are still searching for survivors. There are fears the death toll will rise further.

The Director of the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), Juan Manuel Méndez, said he was hopeful that many of those buried under the collapsed roof were still alive.