Five stars and almost a hundred years of history may be history: the »Saratoga«, one of the most magnificent hotels in the Cuban capital Havana, was largely destroyed late on Friday morning Cuban time (Friday afternoon in Europe).
It is now becoming apparent that the accident claimed significantly more victims than initially thought.
According to current counts, at least 22 people lost their lives and, according to the Cuban government, at least 64 were injured, some seriously.
According to the hospital, at least eleven people are still in mortal danger.
The number of victims could also increase, because rescue workers are still looking for people buried in the rubble.
It is not entirely clear how many people were in the building at the time of the accident.
The house was currently being renovated and was not in regular use.
Authorities believe the cause of the accident was a gas leak.
According to state-owned company Gaviota, which owns the hotel, the explosion happened while a gas tank at the hotel was being filled.
A government spokesman assured on Friday evening that in any case it was not a bomb attack, but a "regrettable accident".
The first four floors of the five-star Saratoga Hotel in central Havana were badly damaged in the explosion.
The dome of a nearby church collapsed, and cars parked nearby were destroyed.
Current pictures from the scene of the accident show a front of the house torn open, the extent of the destruction seems considerable.
At the time of the accident, a large number of employees were staying at the hotel in preparation for its reopening next Tuesday after a major renovation.
A pregnant woman and a child are said to be among the victims.
There is still hope of finding survivors.
According to the rescue workers, they had voice contact with a woman trapped under the rubble, and other survivors were suspected under the rubble.
Sniffer dogs were used.
According to the authorities, foreigners were apparently not among the victims.
The Hotel Saratoga had been closed for renovations for two years.
Built in 1880 as a department store, the building was converted into a hotel in 1933 and was last renovated in 2005.
Guests not only appreciated the stylish, art deco ambience, but also the roof terrace of the house located in the middle of Havana's old town: from the bar or from the roof-top swimming pool, it offered views of the directly opposite government district with the Capitol, the opera, numerous other famous buildings as well as the sea.
In the past, the Saratoga has hosted celebrities such as Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and pop stars Beyoncé, Rihanna and Madonna.
AFP/pat
