Gas leak causes explosion at five-star hotel in Havana

The heart of the Cuban capital of Havana was rocked by a massive explosion at a five-story hotel in the Old Havana neighborhood. Local authorities reported at least eight deaths, and local newspaper Granma reported local officials said 13 people were missing.

Cuba’s national health minister told The Associated Press that hospitals had received about 40 injured people. However, he estimated that the number could rise as the search continues for people who may be trapped in the rubble of Hotel Saratoga.

“There is a group of people who are receiving help, there are rescue teams,” said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who toured the scene after Friday’s explosion. “The firefighters and all the specialized forces acted very quickly, unfortunately we have deceased people.”

President Diaz-Canel clarified the cause of the explosion, saying “an accident with a gas tank” was to blame.

“In no case was it a bomb, or an attack, as international media have already said, in a very perverse way…to confuse and misrepresent,” Diaz-Canel said. “It’s just a very unfortunate accident.”

Diaz-Canel’s assessment of the Havana hotel explosion as an accident was seemingly backed up by Granma reporting. According to Granma, Havana Gov. Reinaldo García Zapata said no tourists were staying at the 96-room hotel because it was undergoing renovations.

Friday’s explosion came as Cuba is struggling to revive its key tourism sector that was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic compounded issues brought about by sanctions that limit visits by U.S. tourists and restrict remittances from Cubans in the U.S. to their families in Cuba. President Donald Trump imposed the sanctions, and the Biden administration has kept them in place.

Cuba’s struggling tourism industry has played a role in the country’s ongoing economic crisis. The crisis led to protests for governmental change by Cubans and even Americans.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.