At least 22 people were killed on Friday in an explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in the center of Cuba’s capital Havana, as follows from the latest statement the government uploaded to its Twitter page. Earlier, 18 fatalities were reported.

According to the authorities, “21 adults and one child” died. There are 64 survivors in hospitals. Fourteen of them are minors. No foreign nationals were harmed. There have been no official statements yet the search and rescue operation is over.

An accident is believed to be the main cause of the tragedy. Presumably, there was a gas leak in the process of equipment tune-up.

Source: Agencies