Dead and injured: Explosion in luxury hotel in Havana

There has been a serious explosion at a luxury hotel in the Cuban capital of Havana. At least 18 people died and dozens were injured. A gas leak is suspected to be the cause.

After the explosion at a luxury hotel in the old town of the Cuban capital Havana, the death toll has risen to 22. Among them were a pregnant woman and a child, as the presidential office of the socialist Caribbean state announced on Twitter. 64 people had come to hospital for treatment, including 14 minors.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel initially ruled out an assassination attempt. “Initial findings indicate that the explosion was triggered by a gas leak,” the presidential office said in another post on Twitter.

A witness reported that the hotel was being supplied with liquid gas at the moment of the explosion, reported “Granma”, the newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba. Pictures showed a tank truck being pulled out of the rubble. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the well-known five-star hotel a few steps from the Capitol has been closed for about two years. It should be reopened next Tuesday.

Facade completely collapsed

The explosion happened shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time. Much of the facade of the Hotel Saratoga was destroyed. The area was littered with debris and broken glass. Smoke and dust rose above the building. In addition, several vehicles were destroyed. According to information from the AFP news agency, renovation work was taking place at the hotel.

Hotel Saratoga features 96 rooms, two restaurants and a rooftop pool. Stars like Madonna and Beyoncé have stayed there in recent years.