At least 18 people died and more than 120 were injured after a roof fell at a nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, authorities said.

Crews were searching for potential survivors in the rubble at Jet Set in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel M�ndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations.

�We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,� he said.

Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi, was among the victims.

President Luis Abinader wrote on X that all rescue agencies are �working tirelessly� to help those affected.

�We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,� he wrote.

An official with a megaphone stood outside the club imploring the large crowd that had gathered to search for friends and relatives to give ambulances space.

�You have to cooperate with authorities, please,� he said. �We are removing people.�

At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered around her and yelled out the names of their loved ones.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse.

(AP)