ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Flags around New York State are being flown at half staff starting Saturday. Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the flags to be lowered in memory of the more than 200 people killed in a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
The fatal incident occurred at the nightclub Jet Set during a merengue concert early in the morning in Santo Domingo. At least 225 people were killed with 200 more injured as of Saturday afternoon. According to the Governor’s Office, multiple New Yorkers have been identified among the victims.
“Our hearts break for our beloved neighbors in the Dominican Republic who are grieving a massive loss,” Governor Hochul said in her announcement on Friday.
New York State has the largest Dominican population of any U.S. state. As governor, Hochul has allocated millions of dollars in state funding to support the Dominican Studies Institute at City College and the Dominican Center for the Arts and Culture in New York City.
“With more than 1 million people of Dominican descent in the Empire State, the ties between New York and the Dominican Republic remain unshakeable,” Hochul said.
Flags were lowered at sunrise on Saturday and will remain at half staff until sunset on Sunday.
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