Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is at the scene of the explosion, accompanied by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz
Several people died and dozens were injured on Friday following a strong explosion caused extensive damage to the Saratoga Hotel, one of the most expensive and exclusive hotels in the Cuban capital, authorities confirmed.
According to the island’s presidency, “preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion was caused by a gas leak.”
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The first secretary of the Party in Havana, Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, told Granma newspaper that the deaths of four people and at least 15 wounded have been confirmed.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is at the scene of the explosion, accompanied by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Assembly Speaker Esteban Lazo.
The official website Cubadebate reported that emergency teams went to the site and closed several accesses on nearby streets “because there is a risk that the structure will collapse.”
“There are a lot of people gathered there, but the police are closing the place off, you can hear a lot of ambulances and police cars passing by,” Rodriguez said.
Originally built in 1880 as a warehouse, residential building and guest house, the Saratoga was converted into a hotel in 1933 and then, like many buildings in Havana, fell into disrepair and ruin.
It remained like this for years before being restored, and was used once more as a five-star hotel from 2005 onwards.
With information from BBC Mundo
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2024-07-07 04:23:41
