A strong explosion occurred in a hotel under construction in the center of Havana, Cuba, killing at least eight people and injuring thirty, Friday, May 6. The first assessment provided by Luis Antonio Torres Iribar, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Havana, reported at least thirteen people missing.
“Initial findings indicate that the explosion was caused by a gas leak”clarified on Twitter account of the Cuban presidency.
“Search and rescue work continues in the hotel, where it is possible that other people are trapped” under the rubble, added the presidency.
Four floors blown
The five-star Saratoga Hotel has 96 rooms, two restaurants and a rooftop pool. According to the first images available, its facade was largely damaged. The first four floors were completely blown away, and the floor was strewn with debris and pieces of glass, Agence France-Presse (AFP) noted on the spot. A cloud of smoke and dust rose from the Prado, the main avenue in the center of Havana, where the hotel is located, near the Capitol.
Several vehicles were also destroyed near this hotel, known for having hosted several celebrities in recent years, including Madonna and Beyoncé.
The rescuers who arrived in large numbers closed the perimeter while the rescuers searched for possible victims in the rubble at the foot of the hotel. The Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, arrived on the spot, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, and the President of the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo.