Man dies from an electric shock in Baracoa

A tragic event has shocked the community of Cabacú, in the municipality of Baracoa, Guantánamo, in recent hours: the death of a resident of that area due to the impact of a lightning strike during a thunderstorm that occurred on Wednesday in the region.

The man, known as Papín and a worker at the local slaughterhouse, was at his home in Vega Larga when a lightning strike hit a pole outside, the current bounced and reached him inside the house, causing his death instantly, according to a source who revealed this to influencer Luis Suárez.

In an initial report about the incident on his Facebook profile, Suárez revealed that the man was inside the house when he was struck by lightning, without any further details.

A source accessed by the influencer revealed details about what happened. They explained that the victim was cooking at home and was holding a slotted spoon or ladle when a surge occurred in a post outside, which apparently “transmitted electricity to the electric stove, and upon contact, electrocuted him.”

According to that person's account, the man's wife “was by his side, but she couldn’t do anything; she performed CPR because she is a nurse at the hospital, but he died instantly; he did not suffer burns, it seems that it was a heart attack.”

Other residents in the Guantanamera locality also stated that the incident took place inside the deceased's own home, a detail that some people questioned.

However, according to experts, “a lightning bolt can make direct contact with an object, bounce (side discharge) towards a person who is nearby or in contact with it, or the current can travel through the ground to a person and even transfer from one person to another if both are in contact with the energy source.”

Relatives of the man who passed away in Cabacú and people who knew him expressed deep sorrow over his unexpected death and the terrible circumstances in which it occurred.

So far, neither the authorities nor the official media in the province have reported on the unfortunate incident.

In the comments of the posts, users stated that at least two similar incidents have occurred in the municipality in less than two months.

On Wednesday, a rainy and stormy afternoon was recorded in the Villa Primada of Cuba, reported Radio Baracoa. Meanwhile, a severe local storm reported in the community of Romelié, in the municipality of Manuel Tames, after six in the evening, brought down trees and caused damage to homes as well as electrical and telephone services.

The authorities had previously warned that heavy rains were forecasted in the province over the next 48 hours.

Deaths from electrical shocks in Cuba in 2025

A study from the Institute of Geodesy and Astronomy (IGA) of Cuba revealed that lightning storms have caused at least 1,892 deaths in Cuba between 1987 and 2023, averaging 51 fatalities per year.

Although the trend has been decreasing (69 deaths annually in the 90s, 56 in the 2000s, and 37 in the 2010s), the risks remain high.

At the beginning of this month, a tragic event was reported in the rural town of Cupey, in the municipality of Moa, Holguín province, where three young people lost their lives and four others were injured due to a lightning strike.

Throughout this year, there have been other fatal accidents caused by electrical discharges. Below is a timeline of some of the confirmed events:

June – Bauta, Artemisa: Two teenagers aged 13 and 16 died after being struck by an electric shock while playing outdoor soccer during a thunderstorm.

August – Manicaragua, Villa Clara: Three children died and one 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 performing agricultural work 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 made contact with high voltage wires.

In July, a group of young people was nearly struck by lightning while playing soccer in the rain in Ciego de Ávila. It was a "foolishness that could cost them their lives," said meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda at the time.

Frequently Asked Questions about Incidents Involving Electrical Shock in Cuba