BREAKING: The death toll has risen to at least 18, with dozens hurt, in a powerful explosion apparently caused by a natural gas leak at a hotel in Havana, Cuban officials said. A pregnant woman and child were among the dead at the Hotel Saratoga.
Cuba’s national health minister, José Ángel Portal, told The Associated Press the number of injured could rise as the search continues for people who may be trapped in the rubble of the 19th century structure in the Old Havana neighborhood of the city.
Police cordoned off the area as firefighters and rescue workers toiled inside the wreckage of the emblematic hotel about 110 yards from Cuba’s Capitol building. Photographer Michel Figueroa said he was walking past the hotel when “the explosion threw me to the ground, and my head still hurts.... Everything was very fast.”
Besides the pandemic’s impact on Cuba’s tourism sector, the country was already struggling with the sanctions imposed by the former U.S. President Donald Trump that have been kept in place the Biden administration. The sanctions limited visits by U.S. tourists to the islands and restricted remittances from Cubans in the U.S. to their families in Cuba.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jewelry Store Smash-And-Grab Heist Tied to At Least 18 Robberies, Netting Thieves $250KSurveillance video showed a sledgehammer-wielding thief smash his way through the front window of a Bronx jewelry store, part of a string of at least 18 connected NYC robberies in which nearly $250,000 in merchandise have been swiped.
Read more »
Only 18% Of Parents Plan To Vaccinate Kids Under 5 When COVID-19 Vaccines Are ApprovedA recent survey shows that parents eager to vaccinate their youngest children against COVID-19 are in the minority.
Read more »
18 Best Restaurants to Spot Celebrities in Los AngelesVisiting LA and want to spot an A-lister sipping a cocktail? Here’s a guide to near certain celebrity sightings
Read more »
18 Cute Backpacks to Bring Your Cat EverywhereWelcome to the Cat Pack.
Read more »
Couple’s Wedding Website Has 18-Plus Section Where Guests Can Read Story Of First HookupNASHUA, NH—Offering of-age friends and family an opportunity to learn how their relationship began, the wedding website of engaged couple Marc Guerrero, 26, and Karina Rivlin, 27, includes an 18-plus section where guests can read the story of the pair’s first hookup, sources confirmed Thursday. “It’s such a nice…
Read more »