Related videos:
The three deceased individuals from this Friday have been identified as a result of a powerful electric shock that occurred in the municipality of Moa, in the province of Holguín.
Journalist Yulieska Hernández García announced this Saturday that the deceased victims are named:
- Eniolquis Romero Terrero, 33 years old (resident in Guamá, in Baracoa).
- Leonel Velázquez Legrá, 34 years old (resident in Armando Mestre neighborhood, in Moa).
- Lázaro Rodríguez Peña, 36 years old (resident in the city of Holguín).
In addition to the three fatalities, four other individuals were injured after a lightning strike in the rural town of Cupey, on the Moa - Baracoa road, east of the mining city.
The municipal authorities, including the party secretary in Moa, Yiganis Cruz Martínez; other members of the Municipal Bureau, vice mayors of the Administration Council, and officials from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), were present both at the hospital and at the impact site to coordinate response actions and support the relatives.
The injured: Four people treated in Moa
Además de las víctimas fatales, resultaron lesionados en el accidente:
-Yuxander Robles Robles (El Jobo de Sagua de Tánamo): Tremors in the body and numbness in the feet. He is currently stable.
-Irelemis Ortiz del Rosario (Yamanigüey, Moa): Numbness in the upper and lower extremities. Now stabilized.
-Lisbeth Pajan Silot (La Playa, Moa): Loss of consciousness and abrasions on the eyes. Remains under medical care.
-Dantry Revé Quiala (Sagua de Tánamo): Abrasions on the left knee and right ankle. Now stabilized.
A series of deaths from lightning strikes in Cuba in 2025
The tragic event in Cupey adds to a series of fatal accidents caused by electrical shocks this year in Cuba:
June – Bauta, Artemisa: Two teenagers aged 13 and 16 died while playing soccer outdoors during a thunderstorm. On the same day, in a related incident, a three-year-old girl drowned in Playa Baracoa.
August – Manicaragua, Villa Clara: Three teenagers died and one minor was injured by a lightning strike during an evening storm.
August – Colón, Matanzas: A 42-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning while working in agricultural activities near the community of La Luisa.
September – City of Holguín: A man lost his life after an electric shock on the terrace of his home, while handling a beam that accidentally came into contact with high-voltage wires.
In July, a group of young people nearly got struck by lightning while playing soccer in the rain in Ciego de Ávila. The meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda described the incident at that time as “recklessness that could cost them their lives.”
A previous tragedy in Moa
Although this year's accidents have been particularly alarming, the municipality of Moa had already suffered a tragic loss in May 2023 when a lightning strike impacted near the building of the Nickel Union Services Company (ESUNI) and initially injured seven people.
Finally, as a result of the incident, a woman, identified as Dunielquis Fonseca Borges, passed away, who worked as a specialist in Economic Management at ESUNI.
Worrying figures: Nearly 2,000 dead in 36 years
The thunderstorms have caused at least 1,892 deaths in Cuba between 1987 and 2023, with an average of 51 fatalities per year, according to a recent study by the Institute of Geodesy and Astronomy (IGA),
Although the trend has been decreasing (69 deaths per year in the 90s, 56 in the 2000s; 37 in the 2010s), the risks remain high.
The Master's in Science Neobil Vega Batista, head of the Instrumental and Technological Development Department at IGA, warned that "the damages are not limited to the loss of human lives, but also include complex and difficult-to-quantify economic impacts."
Since 2024, institutions such as the IGA, the Meteorological Institute, the University of Havana, the Fire Department, and the Fire Protection Agency (APCI) have participated in an Early Warning System and vulnerability assessments, aimed at reducing the devastating effects of these natural phenomena.
Frequently asked questions about power outages in Cuba
What were the fatalities from the electric shock in Moa?
The deceased victims have been identified as Eniolquis Romero Terrero, Leonel Velázquez Legrá, and Lázaro Rodríguez Peña. These three men died as a result of a powerful electric shock in the municipality of Moa, province of Holguín.
How many people were injured in the Moa accident?
Four people were injured after being struck by lightning in Moa. The injured individuals have various injuries, ranging from tremors and numbness to loss of consciousness and abrasions, but all are currently stabilized.
Why are lightning deaths so frequent in Cuba?
Lightning strikes are the leading cause of death from natural phenomena in Cuba. Between 1987 and 2023, at least 1,892 people have died from lightning in the country. Thunderstorms are common, especially during the summer months, and risky behaviors, such as engaging in outdoor activities during storms, increase the danger.
How are the Cuban authorities responding to these incidents?
Cuban authorities have implemented an Early Warning System and vulnerability study. This system, in collaboration with various institutions, aims to reduce the devastating effects of lightning through prevention and raising public awareness about the risks.
What safety measures are recommended during thunderstorms in Cuba?
It is recommended to seek shelter in closed buildings or vehicles at the first sound of thunder. Avoiding trees, metal structures, and bodies of water, as well as suspending outdoor activities, are key measures to prevent being struck by lightning.
Filed under: