Overview

• On June 12, prosecutors arrested Antonio and Maribel Espaillat and charged them with involuntary homicide over the April 8 roof collapse that killed 236 people and injured more than 180.
• A government report cited unauthorized structural modifications and roof overloading as key factors, including the removal of support columns without permits.
• An engineering report completed last week remains sealed, leaving new details of the collapse under wraps.
• Prosecutors allege the Espaillats attempted to intimidate employees who warned of the roof’s instability ahead of the fatal concert.
• The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter building inspections and regulatory reforms for entertainment venues in the Dominican Republic.