Hotel Saratoga

A terrible tragedy took place yesterday at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana.

While the Saratoga was closed for renovations, an explosion caused by a gas leak, ripped through the building, taking off its front facade.

It was an iconic landmark hotel built in the 19th century. The “Saratoga” of the 1940s hosted the Anacaona, an all-women orchestra. It was a favorite luxury hotel for travelers and celebrities such as Madonna and Beyoncé when they visited Havana.

There were lives lost and many injured. Families and the city have experienced a great loss.

Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived quickly at the scene as crews investigated.

There were brave firefighters, some even entering the building before it was determined to be safe to do so. These were Cuba’s first responders. The police cars, water trucks, and ambulances raced by on the Paseo del Prado.

In rapid response, en masse, Cubans donated blood.

There are no words to convey the grief felt by the city.

The night was eerily silent, out of respect for the injured and those who lost family members in the Hotel Saratoga tragedy.

Rest assured, Cuba will rebuild back better.

In Twitter, the hashtags #HotelSaratoga #FuerzaHabana and #FuerzaCuba trended.