Cuba: Massive Explosion in Havana Hotel Kills at Least 18, Injures 64 Others; Video Shows Scary Aftermath

At least 18 people were dead while 64 others were left injured in Cuba on Friday, following the explosion in a hotel in Havana.

The latest number of victims of the tragedy was announced by a tweet from the Cuban Presidency, the account of Cuba's Presidential Office, hours after the explosion unfolded.

The organization noted that the said number of victims was a product of preliminary data offered at the meeting led by Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.

The data mentioned revealed that the 18 people who passed away from the explosion are composed of 17 adults and one minor. Meanwhile, 14 of the 64 injured victims were minors.

The uptick of victims came as police and fire rescuers were reportedly combing through the rubble for possible survivors following the explosion in Hotel Saratoga, per CNN.

The Cuban Presidential office said in a statement that the cause of the explosion in the Havana hotel is a gas leak and indicated that the leak was caused by an accident.

In a statement, Cuba's president pointed out that hospitals continue to treat all the wounded, and rescue activities are still ongoing.

Video Shows the Aftermath of Cuba Explosion

A video uploaded by CNN in a separate report showed what happened to the Havana hotel, revealing a barren facade of Hotel Saratoga. Civilians and authorities were seen in the area around the said Cuba hotel. Witnesses described a "massive blast" that appeared to destroy busses and cars located nearby the Havana hotel.

In another video uploaded by BNO News on Twitter, people recording videos were seen at the site of the explosion. A cloud of dust was also covering the area, while the continuous alarm of ambulances rang continuously.

A CNN team on the site of the explosion also saw a bloodied woman being carried at the scene. Firemen were also reported to use their bare hands to move chunks of broken granite and stone to pull people out of the rubbles.

Meanwhile, pieces of metal awnings, balconies, and large chunks of stone were seen scattered around 300 feet away from the Havana hotel.

The Havana hotel that exploded on Friday was built at the end of the 19th century and became of the most important hotels in the city in the 1930s. Hotel Saratoga offers 96 rooms since its reopening in 2005.

Cuba President Visits Havana Hotel Site Following Explosion

On Friday, Cuba's president reiterated that the explosion in the Havana hotel was not caused by a bomb or an attack. The president made his comment after he returned from visiting the site.

Diaz-Canel also visited the hospitals around the area of the explosion. In a tweet, he noted that he talked to the staff and directors of the hospitals to fight for the lives of their compatriots.

"We are focused on caring for people, the relatives of the deceased and also those who are hospitalized," Cuba's Presidency said, adding that the work of the medical healthcare facilities and rescue teams is immediate.

In a separate tweet, Diaz-Canel expressed his trust in the firefighters and the rescue teams, contending that the hope of the relatives and friends of the victims is in their hands.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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