Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
UPDATE: Desperate search for survivors in Cuba hotel blast continues; 26 dead
A member of a rescue team searches for survivors at the site of a deadly explosion that destroyed the five-star Hotel Saratoga, in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 6, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Latest News
May 7, 2022

UPDATE: Desperate search for survivors in Cuba hotel blast continues; 26 dead

HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — Relatives of the missing in Cuba’s capital desperately searched Saturday for victims of an explosion at one of Havana’s most luxurious hotels that killed at least 26 people.

They checked the morgue, hospitals and if unsuccessful, they returned to the partially collapsed Hotel Saratoga, where rescuers used dogs to hunt for survivors.

A natural gas leak was the apparent cause of Friday’s blast at the 96-room hotel. The 19th-century structure in the Old Havana neighbourhood did not have any guests at the time because it was undergoing renovations ahead of a planned Tuesday reopening after being closed.

Havana city officials raised the death toll to 26 on Saturday, according to the official Cubadebate news site. The dead included four children and a pregnant woman.

Spain’s President Pedro Sánchez said via Twitter that a Spanish tourist was among the dead and that another Spaniard was seriously injured. Cuban authorities had not provided details on the tourist’s death.

Search and rescue teams worked through the night and into Saturday, using ladders to descend through the rubble and twisted metal into the hotel’s basement as heavy machinery gingerly moved away piles of the building’s façade to allow access.

Above, chunks of drywall dangled from wires, desks sat seemingly undisturbed inches from the void where the front of the building cleaved away.

Rescuers declined to answer questions because the authorities had ordered them to avoid confusion.

At least one survivor was found early Saturday in the shattered ruins, and rescuers using search dogs clambered over huge chunks of concrete looking for more.

READ: Death toll climbs to 22 in Havana hotel blast, gas leak suspected

Relatives of missing people remained at the site while others gathered at hospitals where the injured were being treated.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Maxine Stowe teams up with Kenneth ‘Skeng Don’ Black for rebrand
Entertainment, Latest News
Maxine Stowe teams up with Kenneth ‘Skeng Don’ Black for rebrand
December 17, 2025
Well-known entertainment consultant Maxine Stowe has teamed up with businessman Kenneth “Skeng Don” Black for the re-release of several key singles to...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Warner Bros Discovery rejects Paramount bid
International News, Latest News
Warner Bros Discovery rejects Paramount bid
December 17, 2025
New York, United States (AFP)—Warner Bros Discovery on Wednesday rejected a hostile takeover bid by Paramount launched last week to trump plans by str...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Courts and Mabe donate appliances to hurricane relief efforts
Latest News, News
Courts and Mabe donate appliances to hurricane relief efforts
December 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Courts and appliance brand Mabe have partnered to donate household appliances as part of the ongoing relief effort following the e...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
PNP’s Isat Buchanan condemns alleged rape of CASE student
Latest News, News
PNP’s Isat Buchanan condemns alleged rape of CASE student
December 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Youth and Human Rights, Isat Buchanan, has condemned the alleged rape of a female student of the Colleg...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Rob Reiner’s son awaiting court appearance on murder charges
International News, Latest News
Rob Reiner’s son awaiting court appearance on murder charges
December 17, 2025
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The son of famed Hollywood director Rob Reiner could be medically cleared to appear in court as soon as Wednesday t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
WATCH: Repair work underway at section of Spanish Town Road
December 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Repair work underway at a section of Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of the Sandy Gully Bridge could result in traffic delays. T...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Undefeated boxing great Crawford announces retirement
International News, Latest News
Undefeated boxing great Crawford announces retirement
December 16, 2025
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hangin...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump bans and restricts entry to nationals of three Caribbean countries
Latest News, Regional
Trump bans and restricts entry to nationals of three Caribbean countries
December 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday named Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti as countries where citizens from ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct