Death Toll From Explosion at Havana Hotel Rises to 40
Twenty injured people are also still hospitalized after the devastating blast at the iconic 19th-century hotel.
By Associated Press ••
NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Authorities believe a gas leak led to an explosion Friday morning that killed at least 35 people at an under-renovation hotel in Havana, Cuba.
More bodies were pulled from the ruins of a luxury hotel in Cuba's capital Monday, bringing the official death toll of a powerful explosion at the iconic building to 40.
Dr. Julio Guerra, chief of hospital services at the Ministry of Health, said at a news conference that more bodies had been recovered in the last few hours. He added that there were still 18 people hospitalized for injuries from Friday's blast at the 19th century Hotel Saratoga.
Search crews with dogs have been hunting through debris in the hotel in Cuba's capital.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
Rescuers work after an explosion in the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, on May 6, 2022. A powerful explosion Friday destroyed part of a hotel under repair in central Havana, AFP witnessed, with no casualties immediately reported.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
View of the Saratoga Hotel after a powerful explosion in Havana, on May 6, 2022.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
View of the Saratoga Hotel after a powerful explosion in Havana, on May 6, 2022. Eight people were killed and about 30 hurt in a powerful explosion Friday that partly destroyed a five-star hotel in central Havana, the Cuban government said, adding the blast was likely caused by a gas leak.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
View of the destroyed entrance of the Saratoga Hotel after a powerful explosion in Havana, on May 6, 2022.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
Rescuers and firefighters comb through the rubble after a huge blast wrecked the Saratoga Hotel in Havana on May 6, 2022.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
View of the Saratoga Hotel after a powerful explosion in Havana, on May 6, 2022.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
View of a rubble after an explosion in the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, on May 6, 2022. Rescuers searched for victims Friday after a powerful explosion ripped through a hotel under refurbishment in central Havana, with no casualties immediately reported.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
Rescuers work after an explosion in the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, on May 6, 2022. A powerful explosion Friday destroyed part of a hotel under repair in central Havana, AFP witnessed, with no casualties immediately reported.
AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
The five-star Hotel Saratoga is heavily damaged after an explosion in Old Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 6, 2022.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
View of the damaged facade of the Saratoga Hotel after an explosion in Havana, on May 6, 2022. A powerful explosion Friday destroyed part of a hotel under repair in central Havana, AFP witnessed, with no casualties immediately reported.
Twitter / @paulocoxcristo
These photos show the aftermath of what appears to have been an explosion at Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba on May 6, 2022.
Twitter / @paulocoxcristo
These photos show the aftermath of what appears to have been an explosion at Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba on May 6, 2022.
Twitter / @paulocoxcristo
These photos show the aftermath of what appears to have been an explosion at Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba on May 6, 2022.
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Before the latest update given by Guerra, the toll of dead was 35, and 20 injured patients were listed as being hospitalized.
The 96-room, five-star hotel in Old Havana was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak ignited Friday, blowing the outer walls into the busy, midmorning streets just a block from Cuba's capitol.
Several nearby structures also were damaged, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church, headquarters for the denomination in western Cuba.
Authorities said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the explosion at the hotel, which is owned by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA, one of the businesses run by the Cuban military.
