A woman with ties to Ottawa is one of the victims of a roof collapse at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic.
CTV News Ottawa has learned one of the victims is Sheila Berroa, who had lived in Ottawa but was in the Dominican Republic when the tragedy occurred.
Berroa worked as the general manager at the Planet Fitness on Merivale Road and was a student at Algonquin College. An Instagram post last August showed Berroa celebrating her 24th birthday.
Berroa also posted a photo on Instagram on Monday.
“You are and will always be the loving friend from my childhood,” said one post on the photo.
“May God have you in a beautiful place princess,” said another post.
Berroa’s family left Ottawa Wednesday morning to travel back to the Dominican Republic.
Leudy Minaya, one of the owners of El Meson Dominicano restaurant in Gatineau, Que., says he knew Berroa and her family.
“She was a beautiful person she used to come here, and I know the family too. They are very kind people I know they are going through a hard time,” he said.
“I wish nobody had to go through this, it’s unfortunate it happened to them.”
He said the Dominican community in Ottawa is shocked about the incident.
“We are mourning in the Dominican Republic and as Dominicans that live abroad as well, this is a really hard time for everybody,” he said.
Minaya says he had been to the club where the collapse happened about 15 years ago.
“It was a club for politicians and famous people used to go there for concerts and dancing. It was a really attractive place,” he said.
“It’s shocking something like this would happen in that kind of place.”
At least 124 people are dead and more than 255 people injured after the ceiling collapsed during a concert at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo Tuesday morning. The National Institute of Forensic Pathology officials released the names of 54 people identified on Wednesday.
The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel died in the collapse.
President Luis Abinader has declared three official days of mourning for the victims.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub,” Abinader said on X. “All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”
With files from The Associated Press and CTV News Ottawa’s Shaun Vardon
