Condolences and love to families of hotel explosion victims
News from Cuba |
Friday, 6 May 2022
Explosion at Hotel Saratoga. Photo: Luis De Jesús
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign sends its deepest condolences and love to the families of the dead and injured following the gas explosion at the Saratoga Hotel on Friday 6 May. Our solidarity and strength goes out to the emergency and health services working to find survivors and treat the injured.
Latest update: 7 May
At least 22 people are dead, including a pregnant woman and a child, and 64 remain hospitalised including 14 children. Officials say that the incident took place when a gas leak ignited, destroying the hotel and destroying surounding buildings. Rescuers say at least one survivor may be trapped in the basement of the hotel.
CSC wishes to reassure friends and family of those taking part in CSC’s May Day Study Tour and Young Trade Unionists’ Brigades to Cuba that all participants are safe and well and were not in Havana at the time of yesterday’s explosion.
The hotel which was currently under renovation suffered massive damage due to the explosion, Cuban authorities have reported that at least eight people have confirmed dead and there are over two dozen injured.
A massive explosion took place at Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba at 10:50 am local time. The explosion, which is suspected to be a result of a gas leak, heavily damaged the hotel in Old Havana, a block away from the Capitolio. According to reports by Cuban Health Minister Emilio Delgado Iznaga, as of 12:45 pm local time, eight deaths were reported and at least 30 people were hospitalized with injuries.
Firefighters and health authorities are leading a rescue operation at the site of the explosion to clear the rubble and search for the 13 people who are reportedly missing. Hospitals in the area have called for people to donate blood in order to help the injured.Dozens of people have arrived to the El Vedado Blood Bank to support those wounded from the explosion. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who has been at the scene since the explosion occurred, told the press that “It was not a bomb or an attack, it is an unfortunate accident.”Diaz-Canel also visited the hospital where many of the injured are receiving medical attention and gave the assurance that “our hospitals are working to attend to the injured and the rescue efforts will continue.”Official reports stated that no guests were staying at the historic hotel which was under renovation. In 2016, the five-star hotel hosted several American personalities and business executives during the period of normalization of relations.
