MIAMI, United States. — Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived this afternoon in the vicinity of the Hotel Saratoga after the burst that left at least eight dead and dozens wounded and missing.
Official media on the island indicated that Díaz-Canel arrived at the scene in the company of the regime’s prime minister, Manuel Marrero, and the president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández.
In statements reproduced by the Cuban Presidencythe president ruled out that it was a terrorist act, as was initially speculated on social networks.
“It was not a bomb or an attack, it is an unfortunate accident,” said Raúl Castro’s successor about the tragedy.
Díaz-Canel also pointed out that the hospitals “are depending on all the injured” and that “work continues on rescue activities.”
The Cuban Presidency also confirmed on Twitter that the incident was caused by a gas leak and that in the next few hours the authorities would offer more details in this regard.
Preliminary figures released by the island’s authorities reveal eight deaths, 13 missing persons and another 30 hospitalized, including several children.
Emilio Delgado Iznaga, provincial director of Health in Havana, specified that the capital’s health system is fully active and that several citizens are donating blood.
The authorities also indicated that most of those affected were transferred to the Calixto García and Hermanos Ameijeiras hospitals.
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