{"id":252434,"date":"2022-05-07T10:06:17","date_gmt":"2022-05-07T14:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=252434"},"modified":"2022-05-07T10:48:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-07T14:48:48","slug":"strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/","title":{"rendered":"Strong explosion at Saratoga Hotel in Havana"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A strong explosion seriously affected the Saratoga Hotel in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/tag\/la-habana\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Havana<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this Friday, according to official media reports. Preliminarily, 26 deaths and more than 60 hospitalized are reported.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, the investigations point to an accident as the cause of the incident, related to a gas leak. According to the authorities, investigations will continue in order to determine the details of the accident, and also evaluate the condition of the hotel and the rest of the affected buildings in order to determine the next steps to be taken.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The explosion occurred around 10:50 in the morning (local time) and caused the collapse of part of the building\u2019s fa\u00e7ade, also affected by a fire that generated a large column of smoke, EFE news agency reported.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-252434 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-37\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0129-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0129-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0129-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0129-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-38\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0135-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0135-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0135-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0135-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-39\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0148-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0148-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0148-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0148-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-40\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0180-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0180-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0180-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0180-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-41\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0186-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0186-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0186-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0186-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-42\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0192-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0192-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0192-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0192-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-43\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0198-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0198-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0198-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0198-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-44\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0200-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0200-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0200-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0200-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-45\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0212-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0212-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0212-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0212-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-46\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0257-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0257-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0257-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0257-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-47\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0312-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0312-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0312-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0312-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-48\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0326-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0326-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0326-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0326-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-49\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0328-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0328-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0328-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0328-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-50\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0329-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0329-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0329-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0329-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/strong-explosion-at-saratoga-hotel-in-havana\/attachment\/hotel-saratoga-51\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0339-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0339-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0339-1-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Hotel-Saratoga_0339-1-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explosion at the Saratoga Hotel, Havana, May 6, 2022. Photo: Otmaro Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency teams, firefighters and soldiers traveled to the scene, where the country\u2019s highest authorities also attended, including President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel, who this morning was visiting a community in the Havana municipality of Marianao, according to <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cubadebate.cu\/noticias\/2022\/05\/06\/miguel-diaz-canel-llego-esta-en-la-comunidad-husillo-del-municipio-de-marianao\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">another note<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Cubadebate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/PresidenciaCuba\/status\/1522611612414320643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522611612414320643%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foncubanews.com%2Fcuba%2Ffuerte-explosion-en-el-hotel-saratoga-de-la-habana%2F<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Twitter profile of the Cuban Presidency <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PresidenciaCuba\/status\/1522612843123814401\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">affirms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that \u201cpreliminary investigations indicate that the explosion was caused by a gas leak.\u201d According to that source, First Secretary of the Communist Party in Havana Luis Antonio Torres Ir\u00edbar stated that so far the death of four people had been confirmed and 13 remained missing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, as the day progressed, the number of fatalities and injuries increased. Already in the afternoon, after a government meeting on the subject, 18 deaths were counted &#8211; 17 adults and one child &#8211; as well as 50 adults and 14 minors hospitalized, most of them with multiple traumas and several of them in critical and serious condition. Later, four more deaths were reported, bringing the number to 22.<\/p>\n<p>At that time, 10 adults and three children had undergone surgery for injuries sustained in the incident, while the identity and other details of the victims had not been disclosed, although health authorities said that work was underway.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/PresidenciaCuba\/status\/1522736665177075713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522736665177075713%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foncubanews.com%2Fcuba%2Ffuerte-explosion-en-el-hotel-saratoga-de-la-habana%2F<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Torres Ir\u00edbar said that the search and rescue work continued at the hotel, \u201cwhere it is still possible that there are people trapped\u201d and that everything indicated that \u201cthe explosion was caused by an accident.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>He also said that the people in the building next to the hotel were evacuated and that decisions would be taken &#8220;to know where they will go until the damage is repaired&#8221;. He added that &#8220;specialists from the Ministry of Construction are evaluating the building to determine whether it can be repaired or whether other measures should be taken&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>After the government meeting, President D\u00edaz-Canel reiterated that the families whose homes were affected were moved to &#8220;safe places while recovery actions are being carried out&#8221;, and that &#8220;the children of the elementary school that was affected will be relocated to other educational institutions in the area, which will allow them to attend classrooms on Monday&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/PresidenciaCuba\/status\/1522707842825961472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522707844293832704%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foncubanews.com%2Fcuba%2Ffuerte-explosion-en-el-hotel-saratoga-de-la-habana%2F<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Among the neighboring buildings affected were residential buildings and the Concepci\u00f3n Arenal elementary school, explained Havana authorities, who reported broken glass in the National Capitol as a result of the shock wave.<\/p>\n<p>Also affected are the Mart\u00ed Theater, which was severely damaged in its exterior and interior, and the El Calvario Baptist Church, where apparently no casualties were reported, according to publications on social networks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D2784672575167740%26id%3D100008750735369&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"721\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The authorities have denied the possibility of sabotage as the cause of the incident. The Cuban president himself, who also visited hospitals where the injured are being treated, confirmed that the explosion was not due to an attack.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/PresidenciaCuba\/status\/1522645380906860544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522645380906860544%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foncubanews.com%2Fcuba%2Ffuerte-explosion-en-el-hotel-saratoga-de-la-habana%2F<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alexis Acosta Silva, mayor of Old Havana, quoted by Cubadebate, commented that \u201ca liquefied gas tank was being set up in the hotel. The cook smelled gas, checked the connections and discovered that there was a crack in the supply hose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat was what caused the explosion. The hotel was closed and only service workers were inside,\u201d he added. The latter has also been confirmed by authorities from the island\u2019s Ministry of Tourism, who said that the facility was preparing to restart its operations, so it had no guests, but that some of its officials were there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the official media, the injured were transferred to health centers near the scene, such as the Calixto Garc\u00eda and Hermanos Ameijeras hospitals, where they are being treated urgently and \u201call the resources for this are available.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numerous people inside and outside of Cuba have expressed their dismay at what happened and have offered their condolences to the families of the victims. Also, many volunteers have come to donate blood for the injured, according to testimonies on social networks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under construction\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The explosion occurred around 10:50 a.m. (local time) and caused severe damage to the hotel infrastructure, as well as other damage to neighboring buildings. According to preliminary data, the explosion left 22 people dead and more than 60 people hospitalized. In addition, investigations point to an accident as the cause of the incident.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3134,"featured_media":252443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13902],"tags":[34533,34532],"ppma_author":[33546],"class_list":["post-252434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba","tag-explosion","tag-saratoga-hotel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Strong explosion at Saratoga Hotel in Havana | OnCubaNews English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The explosion occurred around 10:50 a.m. (local time) and caused severe damage to the hotel infrastructure, as well as other damage to neighboring buildings. 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