Cuba: what remains of the Saratoga hotel and its neighbors just over a month after the explosion

Under the torrid Cuban sun, covered by umbrellas or hidden under the few trees that surround the Old Havana Amphitheater with its stone steps, several hundred members of the Baptist community They gather on Sundays to pray to God.

Until just over a month ago, they celebrated their rites at the Temple of El Calvario, a heritage jewel from the late 19th century and home to the first evangelicals of this congregation that missions to the island. But the explosion of the adjacent Hotel Saratoga has left them without a seat.

The explosion – apparently caused by a gas leak on May 6 – left 46 dead and dozens injured and struck – in addition to the Baptist church – at least three residential buildings, a theater, a school and an association, leaving a trace of destruction still visible in one of the most important arteries of the Cuban capital, the Avenida del Prado.

Since then, tasks have focused on collecting debris from the hotel and its surroundings and relaunching the area, although part of the road remains closed and large metal plates cover the facade. The authorities have not yet communicated what will be done with the Saratoga facility, which was 80% affected.

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“This is an alternative place that the government has given us,” El Calvario administrative pastor David González told The Associated Press as the church music group greeted the people who were gathering in the church with songs. Havana amphitheater, about 10 blocks from the temple.

“All criteria give hope that it can be restored”‘the temple, assured González. “There will be an important part to be demolished, perhaps the affected columns, the houses (houses adjacent to the same congregation), but in general the structure seems to be saved … it will be a long process”.

So far, the building has been propped up with wood to stabilize it and the debris has been removed, the pastor said.

The Ministry of Health reported this earlier this week Of the injured, only two remain hospitalized.. Among the 46 dead were a passing Spanish tourist, a pregnant woman and four children.

Neighbors left unharmed still have nightmares and they are easily frightened.

“My house is wall to wall with the Saratoga Hotel,” Onaylis Suárez, a 29-year-old teacher and wife of Pastor González, told the AP. “The floor was shaking. I was paralyzed for three seconds and the window of the room opened and the shock wave poured into the street … In my mind so many things have happened, I thought the church was falling, I thought it was a bomb. What I felt was that I had to escape, ” she recalled.

Since then, Suárez has lived in her parents’ house.

According to the capital’s authorities, three adjacent residential buildings were severely damaged. about 22 families They had to be housed in a complex in the east of the capital and the rest preferred to move to the homes of relatives.

The government has assured that a site has been identified to build a five-story tower with 10 apartments for the victims.

Authorities initially indicated that the explosion was caused by a leak in a gasoline truck that supplied the hotel, but No progress was reported in the investigation. nor is a figure known for the amount of the damage.

The Saratoga Hotel, built in the 19th century, it was an elegant five star with 96 rooms with bars, restaurants and a rooftop swimming pool with panoramic city views.

With its French neoclassical design, with wrought iron balconies, it was one of the most emblematic buildings in the Cuban capital and was chosen by international personalities.

At the time of the explosion, only the workers were present, since the hotel it was preparing for its reopening in mid-May after two years of closure due to the pandemic and a recovery process.

Agency AP

PB