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An explosion at a luxury hotel in the Cuban capital, Havana, killed at least 22 people on Friday night.
More than 60 people also had to be hospitalized.
The situation was initially confusing, but President Miguel Díaz-Canel quickly ruled out a targeted attack.
Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuban President:
“It was by no means a bomb, or an attack, as international media have already perversely claimed in order to confuse and misrepresent the matter.
It's just a very unfortunate accident and it seems to be about the gas tank."
According to »Granma«, the newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party, a witness reported that the hotel was being supplied with liquid gas at the moment of the explosion.
This is also supported by pictures of the clean-up work: the emergency services removed a tanker truck from the rubble.
The well-known five-star hotel is located in the heart of the city, a few steps from the Capitol.
However, it has been closed for about two years due to the Corona pandemic.
It should reopen next Tuesday.
Now it's mostly destroyed.
Eyewitnesses report the minutes of the explosion.
Elba, eyewitness:
»You could see people screaming, dust was rising, a disaster.
It was like in a horror movie.
For real."
Barbara Pineda, neighbor:
»I felt a clear explosion, a single bang.
Then I saw crystal glass shatter and fall - and a cloud of white dust that didn't go away.
But I managed to close the door and run away from danger, this way."
The bottom three floors of the five-story neoclassical building are completely devastated.
Neighboring buildings and several vehicles were also damaged.
According to the government, residents of affected houses were brought to safety.
The structural safety of the hotel and surrounding buildings is being examined.