Radio Varadero broadcasted this Friday a series of nighttime photographs showcasing the extent of the damage caused by a severe local storm that struck the Cuban resort on Thursday, July 9, leaving a trail of destruction in homes, electrical infrastructure, and public roads.
The images published by Radio Varadero on Facebook document scenes that the regime's official text describes cautiously: a collapsed external metal staircase in a residential building, a broken and leaning concrete pole with tangled wires in multiple directions, damaged equipment next to a metal fence, and neighbors working with hoses to clean the streets in front of the "Alondra" establishment, located at the corner of 1st and 26th Streets.
The phenomenon, which residents described as a tornado, is said to have started as a waterspout that touched down upon reaching the town and intensified within seconds.
The user IsabelVlogs was one of the first to document the event: "They report having seen a large funnel with red lightning and strong winds that, although it lasted only a few minutes, caused significant damage."
Among the reported damages are roofs torn off from several houses, knocked-down streetlights, fallen transformers, cables sprawled on the ground, and water tank lids blown away by the force of the wind.
The First Avenue of Varadero, one of the main roads of the resort, became impassable due to the accumulation of fallen trees and branches.
A security camera captured the exact moment the tornado crossed the area, and the video, shared by journalist Christian Arboláez from Cárdenas, garnered more than 43,000 views on Facebook within hours.
Arboláez noted in his publication that "the residents agree that everything happened in just a few seconds, but it was enough to cause significant material damage in the area."
Radio Varadero, the local state media, titled its report "Immediate Recovery After Severe Local Storm in Varadero" and emphasized that "local authorities, specialized forces, and community members immediately began recovery efforts" with the goal of "restoring basic services, clearing roads, and ensuring the safety of residents."
The Gaviota Tourism Group, a subsidiary of the military business conglomerate Gaesa, announced that its hotel properties were not affected, a statement that contrasts with the images of destruction in residential areas.
The tornado that surprised Varadero occurred during the highest risk period for Cuba: 82% of the tornadoes on the island occur between May and July.
The province of Matanzas, where Varadero is located, records the highest number of tornadoes in western Cuba, with 64 events documented between 1991 and 2020, according to scientific studies.
The area had already recorded similar phenomena in recent years: in November 2023, a waterspout was spotted in Varadero and in June 2025, another waterspout was sighted near the Hicacos Peninsula that lasted about ten minutes without making landfall or causing any damage.
As of this Saturday, the Cuban authorities had not issued any official statement regarding the tornado or the full extent of the damages, and no fatalities or serious injuries were confirmed.
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