Havana (EFE).- One year after the explosion of the iconic Saratoga hotel in Havana, with 47 deaths and 17 damaged buildings, unknowns persist about the causes, in the absence of the publication of an official report, and the future of the concrete skeleton of the building, which still stands in the historic heart of the capital.
It was 10:51 a.m. on the morning of May 6, 2022, when a thunderclap was felt that collapsed walls, destroyed windows, doors, false ceilings, and shattered windows in the old accommodation and some neighboring buildings, causing panic in the area. and commotion in Havana.
In principle, the dust generated a thick smoke in its surroundings that did not allow visualization and people screamed and ran, according to witnesses who were hit by the dramatic event.
The explosion occurred when a tanker truck loaded with more than 11,000 liters of liquefied gas exploded due to a leak at the gates of the hotel facility at the time it was supplying it, according to the authorities.
A great noise shook the area due to the collapse of most of the building, which was practically reduced to rubble and caused the death of 47 people -including a Spanish tourist- and injured a total of 99.
An investigation was then initiated, of which to date its conclusions have not been reported.
The impact of the explosion
The outbreak surprised a group of 51 workers who were preparing details for the reopening to the public of the Saratoga, a luxurious five-star hotel that was located in the exclusive plant of the state hotel chain Habaguanex, belonging to the Office of the Historian of Havana.
There were only 4 days left to reopen the hotel after being closed for 2 years due to the covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to the destruction of a large part of the hotel, the shock wave damaged 17 other neighboring buildings such as the emblematic Capitol, seat of the Cuban Parliament, at least four houses, a school, a Baptist church and the Martí theater, inscribed in the history of Cuba after serving as the headquarters of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the first Magna Carta of the island.
This was the impression lived by the sound engineer of the patrimonial coliseum, Luis Alain Rodríguez, told to state media: “I was inside the audio booth and suddenly I felt something strange that was compressing me. I was short of breath for a few seconds. When I felt the explosion I went out and began to see how the walls, frames and false ceilings were collapsing. So, I hid inside the cabin, next to a wall, away from the window glass. When I felt a calm, I got out and ran to the lobby, which was in disarray.”
The area immediately became a hotbed of fire brigades, rescuers, members of the Red Cross and other specialized forces who participated for almost a week in the work of helping the injured and rescuing the deceased who They were buried under rubble.
After finding the last fatality, the cleaning tasks continued, removal of the waste and part of a wall of the Saratoga was demolished to continue the work inside the building, with the prospect that the structure could be saved, according to what he said. then the Minister of Construction, René Mesa Villafaña.
The event forced the evacuation of 68 people residing in buildings surrounding the Saratoga, which suffered significant construction damage, and temporarily locate them in an apartment hotel.
One year later
In mid-January it was reported that the Government had delivered houses to eight families affected by the accident.
The possible rescue of the tourist building, built in 1880 and which had functioned as a hotel since 1911, has been put on hold pending a decision from the highest government authorities.
In its new era, the Saratoga became the favorite accommodation for foreign visitors who came to Havana to stay in a facility with its privileged location in the oldest and most touristic area of the city.
Its visitor register keeps the memory of the presence of celebrities such as the American singer couple Beyoncé and Jay Z, who chose it to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. He also hosted Madonna when she traveled to Havana with several of her relatives for her 58th birthday.
Other show business figures such as the Kardashians and Katy Perry, or the couturier Karl Lagerfeld, star of an outdoor fashion show that had the central promenade of Prado Avenue as a catwalk, are added to the guest list.