China News Service, May 9. According to foreign media reports, a serious explosion occurred in a luxury hotel in Havana, the capital of Cuba. As of the 8th local time, the number of victims had risen to 30, and the search and rescue operation at the scene was still ongoing.
On May 7, local time, search and rescue personnel carried out search and rescue at the scene of the accident.
The Saratoga Hotel in Old Havana is a five-star hotel with 96 rooms. On the 6th local time, the hotel was suspected of bursting due to a natural gas leak.
Cuban officials said on the 8th that the death toll had risen to 30.
Meanwhile, rescuers are continuing their search.
Several nearby buildings were also damaged.
The Cuban Ministry of Health said 84 people were injured in the blast and about 24 were still receiving treatment in hospitals.
The victims included four minors, a pregnant woman and a Spanish tourist.
Authorities said the cause of the explosion was still under investigation, but was believed to have been caused by a natural gas leak.
Crews had begun clearing the streets around the hotel, and by late on the 7th, heavy traffic had resumed.