Dominican Republic mourns 221 victims of nightclub collapse

The nation mourns as rescuers face their worst nightmare under tons of rubble.

A drama that shakes the heart of the Caribbean

The air in Santo Domingo was thick with pain this Thursday, as the entire country bowed before the closed coffin of Rubby Pérez, the king of merengue, whose voice was silenced forever under the cement of the Jet Set club. President Luis Abinader, with his face carved by grief, remained like a mute guardian next to the coffin, while the tears of the mourners mixed their bitterness with the chords of the national anthem, now an elegy.

The quest: a race against death

A few blocks from the theater, among mountains of rubble that seemed to scream, rescue teams were fighting an epic battle against time. Juan Manuel Méndez, with his voice broken by the weight of 20 years of service, confessed before the cameras: “Today we accomplished the most difficult task”. His tears, dried by colleagues, were the reflection of an entire nation on the brink of the abyss.

RelatedDominican Republic honors victims of nightclub collapse

Meanwhile, in the hospitals, Health Minister Víctor Atallah pronounced words that chilled the blood: “If the trauma is very intense, there is not much time.” The victims, with fractured skulls and shattered bones, struggled between life and death, while their desperate families toured morgues and medical centers like lost souls.

Farewell to the fallen heroes

The legendary former baseball player Octavio Dotel received a farewell worthy of legend, with hundreds of people, including the immortal David Ortiz, gathered to honor his memory. “He is a person that everyone loved,” Ortiz murmured, as the weight of the tragedy became unbearable. In Haina, Pérez’s homeland, ten coffins lined up under a leaden sky told a story of collective pain.

Among the names of the victims, stars of sport, music and politics shone: from the saxophonist Luis Solís, who died on stage, to the designer Martín Polanco, whose creativity was cut short in an instant. The endless list was a cruel reminder of human fragility.

The questions that cry out for justice

While the ambulances still echoed in memory, authorities promised a thorough investigation. When was the last Jet Set inspection? Why did the roof give way in the middle of the party? The families, between mourning and anger, demanded answers. The club, in a cold statement, assured to cooperate, but doubts had already sown their seeds in the heart of the nation.

Share this story to keep the memory of the victims alive. Explore more about the rescue efforts and the stories of survival that emerge from the shadows.

Gael García Bernal: ‘It’s going to be difficult for them to beat Mexico’

The Mexican actor trusts in the solidity of El Tri in the World Cup and remembers his love for Pumas.

Gael García Bernal is passionate about soccer and has been a fan of the UNAM Pumas for decades. 25 years ago, in And your mother also, he wore the university team’s shirt. Later, he took his passion to the movies with Rudo y cheesy, where he played a soccer player.

His vision of the Mexican National Team

Today, the actor closely follows the World Cup and the path of El Tri directed by Javier Aguirre, already installed in the round of 32. Regarding the national team, Gael commented to EL UNIVERSAL:

“I see her very well. The only certainty I have is that it will be difficult for them to beat her, I don’t know if Mexico can win (laughs), but it will be difficult for them to beat her.”

He also highlighted the strength of the team:

“They will have to play a great game, (the Mexican team) is very solid, we are playing like never before in terms of defense, tactics, technique, there is a good job and let’s see how far it goes.”

The historic El Tri Pass

Mexico had a perfect group stage: three wins and zero goals conceded, something unprecedented in its history. They beat South Africa (2-0), South Korea (1-0) and Czech Republic (3-0). That earned him first place in the group. Their rival in the next round will come from among the best third places: Ecuador, Uruguay or Escucia are the candidates.

The duel will be played on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Mexico City Stadium, formerly known as Azteca.

Loyal to the Pumas since 1991

Gael’s love for the Pumas was born in 1991, when he and his friend Diego Luna went to the CU Stadium to see the team win the championship against América. Since then he has not stopped supporting them. In the last final of the Mexican tournament, where Pumas lost to Cruz Azul, Gael recognized the merit of his rival.

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German streamer flees knife attack in CDMX flea market

A German streamer was threatened with a knife in a flea market in the capital.

Attack on FastFoodBoss in flea markets in the capital

The German content creator known as FastFoodBoss experienced tense moments in Mexico City. While he was doing a live broadcast at a flea market, a man confronted him with a knife in his hand.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 24, before Mexico’s last game in the group stage. The video of the meeting spread quickly on social networks.

In the images you can see an elderly man, shirtless and with his face painted with the Mexican flag, approaching the young foreigner. He demanded that I stop recording. Not understanding the language, the streamer — whose real name is Oskar — asked a merchant for help.

The merchant stood between them and asked the attacker to calm down, explaining that the tourist did not speak Spanish. During the struggle, phrases such as:

“Don’t record here, your father’s son… No, he’s recording me, take out your cell phone.”

Taking advantage of the intervention, the content creator managed to get away and then ran to safety. He did not stop his live broadcast, commenting in German that the man was carrying a knife.

So far, FastFoodBoss has made no further statements. He only shared the clip on Twitch and a screenshot on Instagram. The event revives the debate about the safety of content creators in public spaces.

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Drake Bell turns 40 amidst controversies and legal proceedings

The former Nickelodeon star turns 40 amid an extortion lawsuit and separation rumors.

Four decades marked by controversy

Drake Bell, the actor who conquered a generation with Drake & Josh, turns 40. His recent career combines projects in Mexico with multiple legal and personal controversies.

His relationship with the Mexican influencer Ela Vidal could have ended. Rumors on social networks point to infidelity on the part of her, who is expecting her first child. Neither of them has confirmed or denied.

Added to this is a lawsuit for extortion filed by his former manager Aitor García before the CDMX Prosecutor’s Office. García claims that he was identified as the person with whom Vidal was unfaithful to Bell, which damaged his reputation. He claims that the singer seeks to force him to pay 10 thousand dollars to close the conflict.

The history behind the lights

In 2024, the documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV revealed that Bell was a victim of sexual and physical abuse by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck. The case showed the dark side of the children’s industry.

In 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to endangering a minor under the age of 15 by sending her inappropriate messages and content. He received two years of probation and 200 hours of community service.

In addition, he has accumulated arrests for drunk driving in 2009 and 2015. In the last one, he paid a bail of 20 thousand dollars and spent 10 hours in prison. In 2020, his ex-partner Melissa Lingafelt accused him of physical and verbal violence; he denied it.

Despite everything, Bell has found a professional refuge in Mexico. In 2023 he participated in Who is the mask? and maintains a concert agenda. However, controversies continue to overshadow his career.

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