SAO PAULO (Kyodo) -- Tony Blanco, the 2009 Central League home run and RBI champion in his first season with Japan's Chunichi Dragons, died after a roof collapsed at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic capital, local reports said Tuesday.

At least 98 people died, and 160 were injured during the incident in Santo Domingo, according to The Associated Press. Former pitcher Octavio Dotel, who played for 13 Major League Baseball clubs, was also among those killed.

Around 300 people were believed to be attending a concert in the building at the time of the incident. Dominican President Luis Abinader declared three days of mourning following the incident.

Blanco, who was 44 years old, according to the Nippon Professional Baseball website, moved from Chunichi to a CL rival, the DeNA BayStars, in 2013 and won both the batting and RBI titles that year. He also played for the Orix Buffaloes in the Pacific League until 2016.

"He was a massive help to us," current Chunichi manager and Blanco's former teammate Kazuki Inoue said of Blanco, who helped the team win the CL pennant in 2010 and 2011 as its cleanup hitter.

"He had a very good character, too, and really wanted to acclimate to Japan."

DeNA manager Daisuke Miura, also a former teammate of Blanco, said, "He was a really kind-hearted player. I'm in shock."