Havana (CNN) — The death toll from the explosion at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana on Friday has risen to 45 and rescuers said they believe they have now recovered all the victims.
“There is no longer anyone who is considered missing,” said Colonel Luis Guzmán, head of the Cuban Fire Department
A total of 98 people were injured in the explosion and 16 people remain hospitalized, according to the Cuban Ministry of Health.
Authorities have said they believe a gas leak caused the explosion.
Colonel Guzmán said that workers will continue to clear the area of debris during a press conference on Thursday.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel ordered a national mourning from 6 a.m. on May 13 until midnight the next day, according to Cuban state media, and ordered all flags to fly at half-staff during that period.
On Tuesday, the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, visited for the third time the vicinity of the Hotel Saratoga, according to a publication of the Cuban Presidential Office. Diaz-Canel indicated in networks that “The Saratoga Hotel’s Priority Remains Finding the Missing”.
Possible cause of the explosion
A gas leak is believed to be the cause of the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel, according to the Cuban Presidential Office, which said more details would be forthcoming.
“Everything indicates that the explosion was caused by an accident,” said the Cuban Presidential Office in a tweet.
Witnesses described a “huge explosion” apparently destroying buses and cars outside the hotel in the city center.
Images from the scene showed the building’s at least three-story blown-up facade adorned with green and white stucco. Columns of dust and smoke might be seen rising around the rubble on the ground.
A sign for the Hotel Saratoga hangs in the rubble following an explosion in Havana severely damaged it on May 6. (Ramon Espinosa/AP)
A CNN crew on the ground saw a bloodied woman being carried from the blast site. Firefighters were using their bare hands to move broken pieces of granite and stone to pull people out of the rubble. Pieces of metal awnings, balconies and large chunks of stone were scattered regarding 90 meters away from the hotel.
Díaz-Canel visited this Friday the place of the explosion and the Hermanos Ameijeras hospital, where several victims were sent, according to images shared by the Presidential Office on Twitter.
He said the blast was “not a bomb or an attack, it’s an unfortunate accident” following returning to the blast site.
Hospitals continue to treat all the injured and rescue activities continue, he added.
The Mexican foreign minister tweeted their solidarity with the victims of the explosion. “Our solidarity with the victims and those affected, as well as with the people of that endearing brother town,” said Marcelo Ebrard.
The hotel was built at the end of the 19th century and, in the 1930s, it was one of the most important hotels in the city. It has 96 rooms since it reopened in 2005 following a refurbishment, according to its website. Personalities such as the writer Rafael Alberti have passed through its doors.
Debris is scattered following an explosion at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana on May 6. (Alexandre Meneghini/Archyde.com)
Two Spanish tourists were affected by the explosion
Two Spanish tourists were affected by the explosion. A tourist died and another was seriously injured following the explosion at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana on Friday, the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, announced this Saturday.
Tragic news reaches us from Cuba. A Spanish tourist has died and another Spanish citizen is seriously injured following the explosion of the Saratoga hotel.
All our love for their families and those of all the victims and injured. Our support also to the Cuban people.
– Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 7, 2022
“Tragic news reaches us from Cuba. A Spanish tourist has died and another Spanish citizen is seriously injured following the explosion of the Saratoga hotel,” Sánchez tweeted.
“All our love for their families and those of all the victims and injured. Our support for the Cuban people,” added Sánchez.
A “huge explosion”
Witnesses told CNN correspondent Patrick Oppmann at the scene that a “huge explosion” had occurred.
Images from the scene show the facade of at least three floors of the building destroyed. Plumes of dust and smoke might also be seen rising around the debris on the ground.
Buses and cars outside the hotel were also destroyed.
With information from Patrick Oppmann, Karol, Abel Alvarado, Karol Suárez, Jorge Engels and claudia rebaza.