A strong explosion, which occurred on the morning of Friday 06/05, seriously affected the Saratoga hotel, in Havana, and several buildings in its surroundings. The preliminary figures of affectations by the sinister, updated on the morning of this Saturday, show at least 25 deaths and more than 60 hospitalized, according to official sources.
Of the 22 deaths counted until 8:00 pm on Friday, the death toll from the explosion rose to 25 during the early hours, when work continued to remove the debris from the site. 22 victims have already been identified, according to the information offered to the local press by Orestes Llánez, coordinator of the Government of the capital, and published by the official website Cubadebate.
Those who died from the incident belong to the eastern province of Holguín (3), one to the west, specifically to the territory of Matanzas and the rest are from Havana, Llánez pointed out, quoted by the media.
It also transpired that a Spanish tourist died in the event and another tourist of the same nationality was among the injured reported as “very serious”, according to the agency. Eph sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain.
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, lamented this Saturday on his Twitter profile the deaths caused by the explosion in the luxury hotel and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the Cuban people.
Tragic news reaches us from Cuba. A Spanish tourist has died and another Spanish citizen is seriously injured after 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
During the morning of this Saturday, other heads of state and government, including the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, sent messages of condolences for the tragic event.
“Receive my sincere condolences in relation to the tragic consequences of the explosion at the Saratoga hotel in Havana. I ask to convey my words of compassion and support to the relatives and relatives of the victims and the wishes of a speedy recovery to all the wounded, “said the president, according to a released statement by the Kremlin.
Cuban government sources reported that during the morning of this Saturday the work will continue to locate possible survivors, especially in the basement area of the building, where until now the rescuers had not been able to reach.
According to reports published by Cubadebate, we work with the canine technique and radar technologies. The architect Naman Morales, general director of construction in Havana, explained to the media that “the combined forces are maintained in support of the work of debris removal and rescue of bodies that remain in the basement.”
The specialist added that 18 properties have been evaluated, of which two were partially affected, while those in the area behind the hotel should have less damage.
In construction…