Family, friends and authorities, headed by the Dominican President, Luis Abinader, attended a mass this Sunday in the municipality of Haina, to about 30 kilometers from Santo Domingo and where were more than 20 of the 226 deaths because of the collapse of the roof of a disco in the capital early Tuesday.
The sports center where the Mass was officiated was adorned with flowers, around a wide poster that indicated the reason for the religious servicewhile on a screen portraits of the victims from Haina were projected.
Already before the beginning of the trade, the emotion was palpable and some could not avoid tears and sobsfrom the moment they began to listen to songs of religious themes.
Among the deceased was the Rubby Pérez merengueronative of this municipality, who was acting at the Jet Set disco when the tragedy occurred.
During the act, a singer interpreted two of the artist’s most successful themesknown as ‘the highest voice of the meringue’: ‘Looking for your kisses’ and ‘I will return’.
At the end of the ceremony – in which Abinader was accompanied by his vice president, Raquel Peña, and the first lady, Raquel Arbage, along with legislators and municipal authorities – took the word the former mlb player David ‘Big Papi’ Ortizmember of the Baseball of the Major Leagues, who resided for years in that town.
ORTIZ -CERCANO TO THE EXCANZADOR DE GUARDIES OCTAVIO DOTEL, ONE OF THE Jet fatalities Set– He took the microphone: “I am very sad, these days I have been funeral at funeral; this is very sad for me.”
In your message, broken by tears, the extoletero made several allusions to God, whom, he said, “never“You must question at times like these because” He has a way of communicating with us (…) God wants us to follow his steps, that’s what it is, we must love God. “
Also, Pope Francis remembered the fatal victims of the accident of Santo Domingo and asked that “God welcome them in his peace” during the Sunday prayer of the Angelus, published in writing due to the convalescence of the Pontiff.
Around 00:45 Tuesday local time (04:45 GMT) The roof of the popular Jet Set disco collapsed about hundreds of people.
There were 221 people died, according to the authorities immediately, while five others have died in the health centers in which they were admitted.
In addition to fatalities, More than 180 people were injured in the incidentaccording to official data.
In order to determine the causes of the accident, the government announced the formation of a commission of national and international experts because from now on, in the words of President Abinader, he must respond to “what happened, why it happened and how” the tragedy happened.
