The musicians postponed their performances after President Miguel Diaz-Canel decreed official mourning from 06:00 am on May 13 to 12:00 at night on May 14.
However, long before the news broke, several bands and singers decided to voluntarily suspend their scheduled concerts and sent messages of condolences to the families and friends of those affected.
Among the artists is the so-called Diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, who expressed her sorrow for the victims of the explosion caused by a liquefied gas leak at the hotel.
“Cuba is in mourning, with deep sadness, I send my condolences to all those who lost a loved one in the horrendous accident and my wish for a speedy recovery to the injured.(…) Fuerza Habana”, the Bride of Feeling, as Omara Portuondo is also known, wrote on her Facebook profile.
For its part, the emblematic Septeto Santiaguero, wrote: “Our positive thoughts are focused on the salvation of the people injured by the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel, those who are clinging to life today (…).
The accident at the Saratoga Hotel on May 6 sparked an uninterrupted search for more than 144 hours to find the missing persons, among them hotel workers, passers-by and neighbors.
Among the 45 dead are a Spanish citizen, a pregnant woman and four children.
Meanwhile, several patients remain hospitalized and the work of cleaning up debris continue in the area.
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