A total of 30 people have died until this Sunday in Cuba as a result of an accidental explosion in the Saratoga hotel in Havanathree more than the previous day, reported the Ministry of Public Health.
“As of 11:30 AM on May 8, 84 people were injured, of which 24 are hospitalized, 30 patients have been discharged, and 30 have died,” the ministry said in a statement.
In its previous balance, it had reported 27 deaths, but fire brigades and rescuers worked early Sunday morning looking for bodies under the rubble of the building located in Old Havana.
Of the 30 deceased, 16 are men and 14 women, four of them minors, one pregnant and a 29-year-old Spanish tourist, whose husband was also injured during the explosion that partially destroyed the luxury hotel that was being refurbished.
Among the 24 hospitalized, seven are reported in critical condition, six in serious condition and 11 care.
The emblematic hotel had been closed for two years due to the pandemic and was preparing to reopen to the public on May 10.
As reported by the Ministry of Tourism on Saturday, 51 workers were inside when the explosion occurred, apparently caused by a gas leak at the time the establishment was supplied by a tanker truck.
The first four floors of the 5-star hotel were destroyed.
The Saratoga is known for hosting several celebrities in recent years, including Mick Jagger, Beyoncé, and Madonna.
Built in 1880 to house shops, the building was converted into a hotel in 1933 and became a luxury establishment in 2005.