Death toll climbs to 22 in Havana hotel blast

A powerful explosion due to a suspected gas leak ripped through a luxury hotel in central Havana, killing at least 22 people on Friday, according to official tallies. Rescuers pulled four bodies out of the rubble in the early evening as they combed through what remained of the prestigious Saratoga Hotel looking for survivors. At least one woman with whom rescuers made contact was alive in the debris, officials said, adding they believed more survivors were still trapped and that a canine squad was searching them out.

Cuba's president attributed the massive blast to a gas leak. "It was neither a bomb nor an attack, it was an unfortunate accident," said Miguel Diaz-Canel, who arrived at the scene accompanied by the prime minister and National Assembly president. - AFP