Havana hotel ‘gas leak’ blast toll rises

HAVANA: Rescue workers have pulled another four bodies from the ruins of a Havana luxury hotel wrecked in an explosion last week, raising the death toll to 35, an official said.

Crews continued to comb through the rubble of the Saratoga five-star hotel, which was being renovated and had no guests at the time of the late-morning blast last week that was seemingly caused by a gas leak. The search is now focused on the basement and sub-basement of the building. At the time of the blast there were 51 workers inside the hotel, the tourism ministry said.

It is estimated that there are about 12 or 13 people still trapped.

The explosion tore off large parts of the facade.