Dominican Republic ends search for nightclub collapse survivors

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Rescue workers in the Dominican Republic said Wednesday they will wind down the search for survivors of the nightclub roof collapse that left scores of people dead after they found more bodies under the rubble.

The death toll in the Caribbean nation's worst disaster in decades stood at 124 before emergency personnel announced they had found 20 more bodies on Wednesday afternoon.

"We are recovering 20 bodies that we spotted, and already have (pulled) 12 out," said Jose Luis Frometa Herasme, head of the fire service in the capital Santo Domingo, where Tuesday's tragedy occurred.

"Today we will complete the rescue effort," he said, adding that fire fighters aimed to also finish securing the disaster site.

The disaster at the Jet Set nightclub, a fixture of Santo Domingo's nightlife for half a century, sent shockwaves through the Caribbean nation.

Over 500 people were also injured when the roof caved in while renowned merengue singer Rubby Perez was performing for a crowd of hundreds in the early hours of Tuesday.

Perez himself died in the calamity, as well as two former Major League Baseball players.

Relatives of some of the people trapped under the rubble waited desperately for news of their loved ones, either outside the ruined club, at local hospitals or the morgue.

But no survivors had been found in over 24 hours when rescuers announced plans to halt the search.