MIAMI, United States.- The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) reported this Tuesday of two new deaths from the explosion that occurred last Friday at Hotel Saratoga, which increased the death toll to 42.
According to the official report, until 11:30 am, Cuban time, this Tuesday, May 10, there are 96 injured people, of which 18 are still hospitalized and 36 were discharged. Of those hospitalized, seven are in critical condition and two have been reported serious.
For his part, the head of the Cuban Firefighters Corps, Colonel Luis Carlos Guzmán, said that the rescue and rescue operations in the place have been directed in the last hours towards the common areas, including the kitchen-dining room.
According to Cubadebate, Guzmán explained that the above was decided due to the information and permanent exchange with workers and family members.
So far, three hotel workers have not been located.
All the deceased are Cubans, except a 28-year-old Spanish tourist, Cristina Lopez-Ceron Urgartewho was visiting the island with her boyfriend, César, who is seriously injured.
Among those injured and deceased by the accident are hotel workers and citizens who were circulating near it at the time of the explosion.
The accident
According to the Cuban government, the cause of the accident was a gas leak that occurred when a liquefied gas tanker truck was recharging a tank at the Hotel Saratoga. So far this is the only official version.
The explosion, which caused the entire facade of the building to collapse and affected some adjacent buildings, occurred in the morning hours of Friday, May 6, prior to Mother’s Day.
The hotel was not open at the time of the accident, but 51 employees were working inside. The hotel facility, located in one of the busiest areas of the Cuban capital, was scheduled to be this Wednesday.
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