On his Twitter account, the president pointed out that it is for them the “greatest recognition”, since they have not rested in the search for survivors and the essential cleaning of ‘debris’ from the hotel and its surroundings.

“They are our heroes of these terrible hours. #FuerzaCuba,” the president tweeted.

In another message, Diaz-Canel lamented what happened, as well as the destruction, loss of lives and people injured in the accident, “but once again I want to highlight the speed with which the population and the institutions were mobilized. Solidarity has prevailed.”

The explosion at the Saratoga Hotel, an emblematic tourist establishment in Havana, occurred as a tanker truck laden with liquefied gas was serving the facility.

So far, the death toll has risen to 25 and more than 60 injured, while rescue efforts continue in search of survivors.

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