A 13-year-old boy died this Sunday after being struck by an electric shock while he was with two other minors during a storm in the community of Santa María, near the city of Las Tunas.
The other two children survived and were admitted to the pediatric hospital in the provincial capital, where they remained out of danger at the time the information was released, according to a report from the Facebook profile Radar del Tiempo.
The weather page, which attributed the information to Over Carcasés, specified that the three children were underneath a tree trying to take shelter when the lightning strike occurred.
Radar del Tiempo expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased teenager and urged the public to always take precautions during thunderstorms.
Until now, the identities of the three minors and other details about the exact circumstances of the discharge have not been disclosed.
The José Ramón Martínez Álvarez Teaching Pediatric Hospital in Artemisa also echoed the tragedy, expressed its condolences to the family and the community, and used the incident to issue a warning about the dangers of thunderstorms.
“This fact reminds us that thunderstorms are a real risk, and we must always protect ourselves,” stated the institution, which also reaffirmed its commitment to preventive education.
The danger of seeking shelter under a tree
One of the most significant details of the tragedy is that the three minors were taking shelter under a tree when the strike occurred, according to information released by Radar del Tiempo.
The circumstance precisely coincides with the first warning subsequently issued by the José Ramón Martínez Álvarez Teaching Pediatric Hospital: “Avoid taking shelter under trees”.
The case thus highlights a behavior that may seem intuitive when it starts to rain: seeking shelter under a tree. However, the pediatric institution explicitly included it among the actions that should be avoided during a thunderstorm.
Four measures to protect yourself during a thunderstorm
After learning what happened in Las Tunas, the José Ramón Martínez Álvarez Teaching Pediatric Hospital outlined four preventive measures and urged special attention to educating minors about these phenomena.
1. Do not take shelter under trees. This is precisely the situation pointed out by the Weather Radar in this case: the three minors were taking cover under a tree when they were struck by the lightning. The hospital included this behavior as the top recommendation to avoid during a storm.
2. Stay away from posts, wires, and metal structures. The second recommendation from the institution is to keep a distance from these elements when electrical activity occurs.
3. Take shelter in closed and safe spaces. Instead of staying outdoors or seeking protection under a tree, the hospital advises heading to a closed space that can provide shelter from the storm.
4. Educating children about these dangers. The pediatric center emphasized prevention from an early age. The warning becomes particularly relevant in this case, where the three affected individuals were minors.
“At the José Ramón Martínez Pediatric Hospital, we reaffirm our commitment to preventive education,” stated the institution.
Experts also recommend applying the so-called 30/30 rule: if there are fewer than 30 seconds between the lightning and the thunder, you should seek shelter immediately and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside.
A storm that arrived without warning
Several testimonies on social media agreed that the phenomenon took the residents of the area by surprise.
“Yesterday, when the big thunder struck, it wasn’t even drizzling yet; it was a dry thunder. These unfortunate events happen every year,” wrote a user.
Another person recounted, "I was in the yard picking up clothes because it was just drizzling when that tremendous thunder struck. What a scare! It knocked out several electrical appliances in my neighborhood."
Testimonies indicate that the intense electrical activity began when it was barely raining or even before precipitation started in some areas, a situation that can lead to underestimating the danger of being outdoors.
Pain and reflection on social media
The reaction on social media was one of sadness and solidarity, but the circumstances of the tragedy also sparked comments about the importance of teaching young children how to act when a storm begins.
"How sad, ignorance betrayed them. My condolences to the family and friends and wishing a swift recovery for the two hospitalized," expressed one person.
Another one remarked, "Poor boy. Maybe they didn't know that being there was dangerous."
The tragedy also sparked a conversation about the difficulty of convincing children to come inside when thunder starts.
“They get upset when we bring them in because it’s thundering, as at that age they don’t understand and just want to play, but this is proof that we are doing the right thing,” wrote a mother.
Another one recounted: "I scolded my son yesterday; he didn’t want to come inside and got upset, but mom always knows how to prevent things. Now I will show him this news."
A threat that surpasses hurricanes
The lightning strikes are the leading cause of death from natural phenomena in Cuba, even more so than hurricanes.
According to data from the Meteorology Institute (INSMET), between 1987 and 2023, lightning caused 1,892 deaths in the country, with an annual average of 51 fatalities, and the months with the highest mortality rates are July, August, and June.
A chain of tragedies involving minors
The death of the adolescent from Santa María adds to a series of tragedies caused by electrical discharges that have claimed the lives of minors in Cuba over the past few years.
In June 2025, two teenagers aged 13 and 16 died instantly while playing soccer in Bauta, Artemisa.
Just two months later, in August, three children aged between 13 and 14 years died from a lightning strike in Manicaragua, Villa Clara, and a fourth minor was injured.
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