- A luxury hotel in the old town of the Cuban capital Havana was badly damaged in an explosion.
- The portal “14ymedio” and Twitter users reported a strong explosion on Friday morning (local time) in the Hotel Saratoga, near the Capitol.
- According to official information, at least 22 people died – 64 people were admitted to hospitals.
Legend:
The facade of the hotel was badly damaged.
Reuters
A large cloud of smoke and the partly collapsed facade of the building could be seen in the pictures. Videos on social media showed a gathering of people around the scene of the accident. Some people rushed to try to help the injured.
The explosion at the Hotel Saratoga, a 19th-century building in Old Havana, appears to have been caused by a gas leak, President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s office said on Twitter. He went on site.
Search and rescue operations for people who may have been trapped are underway. The website Cubadebate reported that a school next door had been evacuated.
The 96-room, five-star hotel in Old Havana has two bars, two restaurants, and a rooftop pool, according to its website.