Havana, A gas leak at a luxury hotel in the Cuban capital, Havana, has caused a horrific explosion. The blast was so horrific that plumes of smoke billowed all around. At least eight people, including a child, have been killed in the blast so far. Apart from this, about 20 people have also been injured.
The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a luxury five-star hotel in Havana, Havana Governor Ronaldo Garcia Zapata told a news conference.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the scene after the tragedy. “This is not a bomb blast or an attack, this is an unfortunate accident,” he said.
At least six people were injured in the crash on Friday, Dr Julio Guerra, head of hospital services at the health ministry, told reporters.
According to the information provided by the President’s Office, 12 children were also among the injured. Families living in buildings near the blast-affected hotel have also been evacuated.
According to a Cuban news channel, the explosion was caused by a truck supplying gas to the hotel. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Upon learning of the incident, fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and started extinguishing the fire.
Smoke billowed from around the hotel after the blast. Panicked people were also fleeing here on the road. The tragedy comes as Cuba seeks to revive the tourism sector, which was halted by the Corona epidemic.
Cuba’s health minister said the number of injured could rise, as people may still be trapped in the rubble of the 19th-century hotel. The search for people in the rubble is still ongoing. A school with 500 students located next to the hotel has also been evacuated.
The hotel was also renovated in 2007 when the Cuban government planned a redevelopment of Old Havana.
The Saratoga Hotel is mostly used by VIPs and politicians. “I was passing by the hotel when the explosion happened,” said Michael, a Havana photographer. I fell to the ground.
My head is still aching. Everything happened suddenly. Families of hotel workers are also rushing to the hospital to find them
