Four new bodies were extracted from the rubble of the Saratoga hotel in Havana blown up on Friday by an accidental gas explosion, bringing the death toll to 35 on Monday, according to official sources.
” In the night [et aux] early hours of the morning, three other people were found dead. We worked non-stop all morning. A few minutes ago another victim was found,” Colonel Luis Carlos Guzman, fire chief, told public television.
Monday midday, the Ministry of Health said it had counted 89 victims of the explosion, of which 35 died and 20 were still hospitalized.
According to the Cuban state news agency ACN, the four bodies found are those of hotel employees and “12 or 13 people” are still missing.
Research is now concentrated in the basement of the building. “This is a very dangerous step due to the concentration of debris and the danger of collapse,” said the fire chief.
The iconic luxury hotel in central Havana had been closed for two years due to the pandemic and was set to reopen to the public on Tuesday after a series of renovations.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, 51 employees were inside the building when the explosion occurred, apparently caused by a gas leak while the hotel was being supplied by a tanker truck. The first four floors of the 5-star hotel were destroyed.
A collection of donations for the victims and aid for the rescuers has been launched.
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 transformed into a hotel in 1933 and became a luxury establishment in 2005.