Cuba

Cuba: Hotel Saratoga Death Toll Rises to 31

MAY 6 2022·Updated DEC 21 2022

Story

Image credit: AP [via Time]

The Facts

Fatalities from a blast at a downtown Havana hotel on Fri. morning grew to 31 on Sun. as search crews hunted through the rubble of the building looking for people still missing. At least 54 people were reportedly injured, with 24 hospitalized.
NBC New York
An investigation is still underway, but the blast is believed to have been caused by a gas tanker parked outside the Saratoga Hotel in Old Havana igniting.
BBC News
The Saratoga, a historical five-star hotel, was set to reopen on Tues. after closing two years ago during COVID. It has remained closed for much of that time for refurbishment.
wapo
While there were no guests, workers were preparing for the reopening.
Al Jazeera
The hotel was renovated in 2005 as part of the revival of Old Havana. It's owned by the Cuban military's tourism business arm, Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA.
ABC News
This came as Cuba is trying to revive its tourism industry, a key pillar of its fragile economy that had been upended by the pandemic.
The New York Times

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Building collapses are unfortunately all too common in Cuba due to its inefficient centrally planned economy. While the government prioritizes healthcare and education, building safety has been woefully neglected, despite adverse natural conditions.

The Telegraph

Pro-establishment narrative

This blast was an ill-fated event. The hotel had recently been refurbished, and the tragic accident had nothing to do with the building's structure or the government's priorities.