At least eight people were killed, around 30 injured and 13 others were missing on Friday, May 6, after the strong explosion which partially destroyed the Saratoga hotel in the center of the Cuban capital on Friday, probably due to a leak of gas.

"So far, eight people have died and around 30 are hospitalized," the Cuban presidency said on Twitter.

Among the injured, "11 are in extremely serious condition," said Miguel Garcia, director of the Calixto Garcia hospital where they are being treated.

🚨🚨🚨🚨



El presidente @DiazCanelB está en el Hotel Saratoga, donde ocurrió una fuerte explosion este mediodía.



Lo acompañan el primer ministro @MMarreroCruz y el presidente de la @AsambleaCuba, Esteban Lazo.

pic.twitter.com/mInh8FJIca

— Presidencia Cuba 🇨🇺 (@PresidenciaCuba) May 6, 2022

Shortly before, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Havana, Luis Antonio Torres Iribar, had reported that "13 people (were) missing" and warned: "search and rescue work continues in the hotel, where he is possible other people are trapped" under the rubble.

An emblematic establishment of Old Havana with its green facade, the hotel, under construction, was closed to tourists.

The only employees inside were preparing for its reopening, scheduled for May 10.

"Initial findings indicate that the explosion was caused by a gas leak," the Cuban presidency said on Twitter.

"An unfortunate accident"

According to the local leader of the historic district of Havana, Alexis Costa Silva, quoted by the state media Cubadebate, a canister of liquid gas was being changed in the hotel.

The cook smelled gas and discovered a crack in the pipe, which caused the explosion.

The first four floors of the Saratoga hotel, classified 5 stars with its 96 rooms, two restaurants and rooftop swimming pool, were blown up in the explosion, which occurred around 11 a.m. local time (1500 GMT) and the ground was strewn with debris and pieces of glass, noted AFP journalists.

"It was neither a bomb nor an attack, it was a regrettable accident," said President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who arrived there shortly after, wanting to put an end to rumors on social networks that evoked the attacks. bombings in several hotels in the 1990s, sponsored by Cuban exiles.

"We must save ours"

"We felt a huge explosion and a cloud of dust that reached the park (in front of the hotel, editor's note), many people ran out," testified to AFP Rogelio Garcia, driver of a bicitaxi passing in front of the Saratoga at the time of the explosion.

Several vehicles were also destroyed near the hotel.

Built in 1880 to house shops, the building was transformed into a hotel in 1933 and renovated as a luxury hotel in 2005.

The police, who arrived in large numbers, fenced off the perimeter while the emergency services searched for possible additional victims in the rubble at the foot of the hotel. 

President Diaz-Canel, who also went to a hospital where the wounded were being treated, told the doctors: "Be the best, we must save ours".

With AFP

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