An art merchant based in New York City and her husband were among at least 221 people killed in a collapse of the nightmare in the Dominican Republic.
Elivira Malkic and Hakim Boubazine were inside the Jet Set nightclub when their roof fell in the midst of the popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez on Tuesday, which triggered a 53 -hour search and rescue mission in the capital of Santo Domingo.
Malkic, mother of three children, was co -owner of the Elity Art Gallery in the 5th Avenue inside the high -end L’Appel hairstyle, and Boubazine previously served as the director of Operations of Altice USA.
The worker of the Iris Hernández gallery, 30, told The Post that she was surprised to learn about Malkic and the death of her husband in the tragedy of the Jet Set, with the co -owner of the Tiffany Kaljić gallery flying to the Dominican Republic after listening to the news.
Malkic had made known in advance that she was going to be in Jet Set with her husband to celebrate someone’s birthday at Pérez’s concert.
“When he woke up, he saw him in the news,” Hernández said about Kaljić’s reaction.
“I knew I was in the Jet of Night Clubs, and when I did, I already knew about it, I already knew,” added the employee.
Hernández described Malkic as an “incredible woman” with a great eye for the businesses who loved working with artists and his work.
“I had a great work ethic, something I admired and [am] Inspired by, “he said.” She always had a great entry and positive energy, a beautiful woman. “
Malkic also worked in Santo Domingo as an independent cosmetics consultant between 2015 and 2018, according to his LinkedIn page.
One of Malkic’s clients, who goes through Instagram’s handle, ordered chaos, also confirmed the death of Malkic and Boubazine on social networks.
“I am devastated and in shock. I have no words for this. She was like a family for me,” the artist wrote. “He was so young and had much more to do on this earth.
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“I am devastated. I can’t stop crying. She believed in me and my work more than anyone else. She touched me a chance and gave me a show in New York when I was just an artist who showed her work on Instagram. I owe Elvira and Tiffany So Leach.” ”
“I have no doubt that you are there in heaven. You were an angel and the friendliest person I have had.”
The telecommunications giant, Altice, also confirmed the couple’s death with a statement about its former operations director.
“We are disconsolate by the families of all the losses in this devastating event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the Boubazine family,” the company said in a statement.
Malkic and Boubazine were among the 221 victims taken from the rubble since Tuesday, with the search and rescue efforts saving 189 people who were trapped under the collapsed roof.
An investigation into what the roof of the nightclub collapsed is ongoing, with the owner Antonio Espaillat returning to Santo Domingo for “cooperation with the authorities” that investigate the disaster.