The number of fatalities in the accidental explosion at the Saratoga hotel, located in the center of the capital Havana, rose to 31 on Sunday (8), the Cuban Ministry of Public Health said.
According to the agency, 85 people were injured, of which 24 are hospitalized, 30 were discharged and 31 died in the explosion of the luxury establishment, known for having received celebrities.
In its previous balance, the folder had registered 30 deaths. But firefighters and first responders continued this Sunday to dig through the rubble inside the building – as most of the material was removed from the outside.
Among the victims is a Spanish tourist, at least four children and a pregnant woman, according to information from the Granma portal, linked to the Cuban Communist Party.
This Sunday, new messages of solidarity were sent to the country, among them from the King of Spain, Felipe 6º, and from Pope Francis, who asked for prayers on behalf of those affected.
The hotel, located near the Capitol building, had been closed for two years due to the pandemic and was preparing to reopen to the public on May 10.
As reported this Saturday (7), the Ministry of Tourism, 51 workers were inside the building when the explosion occurred, apparently caused by a gas leak at the time the establishment was being supplied by a tanker truck. The first four floors of the luxury hotel were destroyed.
Built in 1880, the Saratoga was transformed into a hotel in the 1930s and a luxury property in 2005. It had 96 rooms, two restaurants and a swimming pool. Under renovation, it remained closed to tourists for two years during the pandemic. He became known for hosting celebrities including Mick Jagger, Beyoncé and Madonna.
