Rescue workers in the Dominican Republic are racing against the clock to pull pleading survivors out of the rubble of a nightclub after the roof collapsed during a merengue concert.

Nearly 300 revelers were in the Jet Set nightclub for a midnight performance from singer Rubby Pérez when the roof crumbled and crashed down upon the crowd. Mr. Pérez was among the 113 declared dead from the incident, which also included two former Major League Baseball players and local politicians. 

Pérez was believed to have initially been rescued, but it was later determined that he had perished in the incident.

His manager said the collapse happened about an hour into the performance and instantly killed the group’s saxophonist.

“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” Enrique Paulino said to the AP.

The crews have been focusing searches over the span of 12 hours on three specific areas of the Jet Set nightclub in the capital of Santo Domingo listening for faint cries for help beneath the rubble, according to The Associated Press.

“We’re hearing some sounds,” Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations said. “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.”

Survivors trapped under the debris have also made phone calls in a desperate plea for their rescue.

Governor of the Montecristo province, Nelsy Cruz, who is also the sister of Major League Baseball all-star Nelson Cruz, was among those trapped and had called President Luis Abinader in the immediate wake of the roof collapse saying she was trapped, first lady Raquel Abraje said to reporters. Ms. Cruz was rescued but later died at an area hospital from her injuries.

“This is too great a tragedy,” Ms. Abraje said.

Also among those killed were pitcher Octavio Dotel, who formally played with 13 Major League Baseball teams, the second highest of any player in history, was pulled from the rubble but died from his injuries while being transported to the hospital, according to a report from CNN.

Tony Blanco, who played for the Washington Nationals, was also killed in the collapse.

Also believed to be among the missing are family members of former Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez.

“I still have family members that are still in the [rubble] and we don’t know what happened to them but we just want to be strong, like we have always been,” Mr. Martinez said in a post on Instagram.

The Jet Set Club said in a statement that it was working with authorities to determine what caused the collapse.

“There are no words to express the pain this event has caused. What happened has been devastating for everyone,” owner Antonion Espaillat said.