The authorities of Havana They raised, today Saturday, to 25 the number of dead as a result of the strong explosion that occurred yesterday in a luxury hotel in the center of the Cuban capital.
In an interview on Cuban Television (TVC), the coordinator of the Government of Havana, Orestes Llanes Mestreindicated that three more bodies were recovered during the night, which are added to the 22 located so far.
Among the deceased, there is a Spanish citizen, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that European country.
On the other hand, Llanes did not offer new information on the injured, which, in the last count on Friday, were 64 people, with 50 adults (18 serious and critical) and 14 minors (three critical and two serious).
Throughout the night, debris removal and rescue work continued at the scene of the accident, amid strong security measures, given the risk of new landslides.
Attack ruled out
the Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canelwho visited the place shortly after the incident, stressed that it was an “unfortunate accident” and totally ruled out that it was a “bomb” or an “attack”.
The event occurred minutes before 11 in the morning, when a liquefied gas tanker truck was serving a hotel tank. The most likely thesis is that the accident was caused by a leak.
The explosion caused a section of the seven-story building to collapse, and the facade of the first three to come off, causing debris to rain down on the sidewalk. The tanker truck was partially buried.
The explosion caused a large column of white smoke, which was visible in much of the capital. Firefighters, police officers and emergency teams quickly rushed to the scene, taking those affected to various hospitals. A nearby school was evacuated.
A group of specialists then began to clear the area in search of possible victims trapped in the building, tasks that lasted until last night.
At the same time, the injured tanker truck, which still had highly flammable liquefied gas inside, was lifted with a crane and with great precautions, and it was deposited in a large truck for its transfer.
recoverable building
In the next few days, a technical inspection of the building will have to be carried out to decide if it can be restored or if the structural damage warrants its demolition.
The Minister of Construction, Rene Mesa Villafanaindicated that it seems that the building “is recoverable”, but that it is necessary to carry out a technical analysis.
The Hotel Saratoga It is housed in a neoclassical-style building built in 1880, which has been operating as a hotel since 1911. Its last restoration took place in 2005, according to official media.
With five stars, the hotel is considered one of the most luxurious in the city. The establishment is in full Paseo del Prado, one of the main avenues of Old Havana, in the historic center of the Cuban capital. (EFE)