- The incident occurred around eleven in the morning in the center of the Cuban capital.
- The detonation has caused damage to a nearby residential building and school.
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| Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press |
At least eight people have died and thirteen remain missing after the powerful explosion this Friday caused serious damage to the emblematic Hotel Saratoga in Havana, located in the center of the Cuban capital, according to authorities. Local media have also reported damage to a nearby residential building and school.
The explosion occurred around 10:50 in the morning and caused the collapse of part of the building's façade, also affected by a fire that generated a large column of white smoke, visible from much of the city.
The ground floor, first and second floors of the six-story building were seriously affected by the explosion, which knocked down the façade, causing a shower of rubble on the street. The mountain of debris on the sidewalk exceeds the height of a person.
🚨🚨 Los segundos después de la explosión en el hotel Saratoga, en La Habana, Cuba.#DestinoCuba pic.twitter.com/UlmS9lT1dq
— Cubanet 🇨🇺 (@CubanetNoticias) May 6, 2022
#ÚltimaHora // Reportan fuerte explosión que destruyó parte del hotel Saratoga, en La Habana, Cuba. Autoridades buscan sobrevivientes entre los escombros. pic.twitter.com/wD9rxlbpjN
— Dr. Lucas⚡️ (@chinchontepec22) May 6, 2022
The main thread of the investigation: a gas leak
The Presidency of Cuba has reported through its account on the social network Twitter that preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion was caused by a gas leak and has advanced that it will give more details about the event "soon".
The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has traveled to the scene of the event, accompanied by the Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, and the President of the National Assembly of Cuba, Esteban Lazo. The Cuban Presidency has released photographs in which the president can be seen at the scene of the events through social networks.
🚨🚨🚨🚨
— Presidencia Cuba 🇨🇺 (@PresidenciaCuba) May 6, 2022
El presidente @DiazCanelB está en el Hotel Saratoga, donde ocurrió una fuerte explosión este mediodía.
Lo acompañan el primer ministro @MMarreroCruz y el presidente de la @AsambleaCuba, Esteban Lazo. pic.twitter.com/mInh8FJIca
The hotel is located in Old Havana, near the Capitol. The Rescue and Rescue Command of the Fire Department, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Interior, have traveled to the area, according to the Granma newspaper.
One of the most luxurious hotels in the city
The Saratoga is housed in a neoclassical-style building built in 1880 and operating as a hotel since 1933. Its last restoration took place in 2005, according to official media.
With five stars, the hotel is considered one of the most luxurious in the city. The establishment is located in the Paseo del Prado, one of the main avenues of Old Havana, in the historic center of the Cuban capital.