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The Cuban Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) issued new safety recommendations to protect oneself during thunderstorms, following the death of three young Cubans and four injuries in a rural village in the municipality of Moa, in Holguín.
In light of the increase in thunderstorms and associated fatalities, INSMET reiterated through several precautionary measures, especially outdoors:
- If you hear thunder, seek safe shelter immediately: houses, offices, shopping centers, or vehicles with a hard roof and closed windows.
- Avoid elevated areas, bodies of water, and metal structures.
- Do not take refuge under solitary trees or rocky outcrops.
- If you are in a group, separate to reduce the collective risk.
- In open sea, return to solid ground as soon as possible.
The entity emphasizes that if a storm is anticipated, the best course of action is to postpone any outdoor activities to avoid the risk of a fatal strike.
The tragic event mentioned took place last Friday in Cupey, when a powerful electrical discharge struck near the entrance of the neighborhood.
The deceased were taken to the Guillermo Luis Fernández Hernández-Baquero General Teaching Hospital, where authorities coordinated identification efforts with family members and neighbors.
Among the injured are Yuxander Robles Robles (El Jobo), Irelemis Ortiz del Rosario (Yamanigüey), Lisbeth Pajan Silot (La Playa), and Dantry Revé Quiala (Sagua de Tánamo), who have sustained injuries of varying severity and remain under medical observation.
The accident in Moa has not been an isolated incident. Only in 2025, multiple deaths due to lightning have been reported in Cuba:
- June – Bauta, Artemisa: Two teenagers died while playing soccer during a storm.
- August – Manicaragua, Villa Clara: Three teenagers died and one minor was injured by an electrical shock.
- August – Colón, Matanzas: A 42-year-old woman died mientras trabajaba en labores agrícolas.
- September – City of Holguín: A man lost his life while handling a beam that came into contact with electrical wires in his home.
In May 2023, Moa had already experienced another tragedy when an electric shock injured seven people at the Nickel Union Services Company (ESUNI), and one of them later died.
According to a study by the Institute of Geodesy and Astronomy (IGA), lightning strikes have caused at least 1,892 deaths between 1987 and 2023, with an average of 51 fatalities per year.
"The damages are not limited to human lives. The economic impacts are complex and difficult to quantify," warned Neobil Vega Batista, head of the Instrumental Development Department at IGA.
From 2024, several scientific and rapid response institutions will implement an Early Warning System to mitigate the effects of these phenomena, although this year's figures indicate that the danger remains high.
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