Massive explosion brings 5-star Havana hotel to the ground

An explosion in the heart of Havana caused the partial collapse of the Saratoga Hotel, drawing large crowds and the city’s emergency services to the scene early on Friday morning.

The iconic Hotel Saratoga has been a Havana landmark since the building was first commissioned by Spanish merchant Eugenio Gregorio Palacios between 1879 and 1880. Constructed in a luxurious neoclassical style, the hotel is located on the Paseo del Prado in Old Havana.