MADRID, Spain.- Four other people were found dead at dawn this Monday inside the Hotel Saratoga in Havana.
As confirmed by the official media Cubadebatethe number of deceased after the explosion of the building that occurred on May 6 rises to 35.
A total of 85 people suffered injuries from the unfortunate event. Of them, 24 are still hospitalized in seven hospitals in Havana.
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 rescue and rescue forces are working in the basement of the hotel, where it is believed that more people may be trapped.
The area occupied by the basement and sub-basement is approximately two stories below ground level.
According to the authorities, the incident was allegedly due to a gas leak.
The explosion affected nearby buildings, including the Havana Capitol, where there were glass breakages due to the impact of the shock waves. According to the official press, the recovery work of the hotel will be assumed by the Office of the Historian.
At the time of the event the hotel was closed. Reform work was carried out for its reopening, scheduled for May 10, after two years closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iconic Hotel Saratoga
The Saratoga Hotel it was built in 1880 and it worked in its beginnings as a warehouse. Located on the Paseo del Prado in Havana, in front of the Fuente de la India, it was inaugurated as a hotel in 1933. In 2005, after a major restoration carried out by the Office of the City Historian, it reopened as a luxurious five-star hotel with 96 rooms, three bars, two restaurants and a business center.
The facility, operated by the Empresa Mixta Hotel Saratoga SA, also featured a rooftop pool with a panoramic view of the city.
Personalities such as the American singer Beyoncé and her husband, the rapper Jay-Z, have stayed in its rooms; and the queen of pop, Madonna.
Receive information from CubaNet on your cell phone through WhatsApp. Send us a message with the word “CUBA” on the phone +1 (786) 316-2072, You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter by giving click here.
