A tornado swept through the municipality of Alquízar in Artemisa province this Thursday, reportedly causing minor damage to the roofs of homes, according to early reports shared on social media. Meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda reported the event on his Facebook page, noting that the tornado appeared briefly before dissipating after traveling approximately 800 meters, where it encountered a rainy area.
Eyewitnesses, cited by the meteorologist, confirmed that the tornado's path was restricted, and its effects were minimal, although it did alarm local residents. Fernández also shared videos on social media, capturing the dramatic scene caused by the funnel cloud and the strong winds that accompanied it.
Facebook user Daniel Rodríguez Pentón posted images showing the damage primarily to the light roofs of several homes and to electrical lines. These visuals verify that the tornado left visible, albeit limited, damage to the town's infrastructure.
Other social media users shared images and messages that captured the fear instilled by the funnel cloud on Thursday afternoon. "Tornado aftermath in Alquízar today, May 22, 2025, looks like a war zone without war. What negligence," one user commented, highlighting the structural decay and the slow response in the impacted area.
Preliminary Damage Assessment Underway in Alquízar
Local authorities in Alquízar began evaluating the preliminary damage caused by the tornado on Thursday. Larexey Batista Ortiz, First Secretary of the Municipal Committee of the Communist Party, visited the affected areas along with other municipal government figures, as reported by Radio Artemisa on Facebook. The recorded damages include impacts in the Mayorquín Sur Popular Council, specifically in demarcation 9, zone 25, which covers CDRs 3, 10, and 11 along 84th Street.
Additional damage was reported in demarcation 8 on 82nd Street, where the tornado left visible consequences. The impacts include partial roof losses, partial wall collapses, and downed electrical and telephone lines. Technicians from the Municipal Housing Directorate are already on site assessing the structural damage.
Regarding the electrical system, Pedro Raúl Noriega Díaz, president of the UEB Alquízar Electric Company, reported that secondary lines were broken, and several connections were damaged, resulting in service interruptions.
Recent Tornado Events in Other Parts of Cuba
Similar weather phenomena have been recorded in other areas of Cuba. Last December, a weak tornado was reported in Güira de Melena, in Artemisa province, as confirmed by meteorologist Raydel Ruisanchez. The tornado appeared as a gray cloud descending to the ground in rural areas, attributed to atmospheric instability caused by moist lower-level airflow and strong upper-tropospheric currents.
Three months later, in March, another bout of atmospheric instability in western Cuba generated a brief tornado in Chamizo, also in Pinar del Río. Although it was short-lived and harmless, it underscored the ongoing pattern of extreme weather. That same day, San Juan y Martínez experienced a severe local storm with hail, wind gusts up to 80 km/h, and intense lightning.
During the same week, a funnel cloud formed in Florida, Camagüey, during a severe thunderstorm. Although it did not touch down, it alarmed residents. The Camagüey Meteorological Center confirmed it as a funnel cloud, with the potential for severe local storm classification if it had made landfall.
Understanding Tornado Impact in Cuba
What are the typical damages caused by tornadoes in Cuba?
Tornadoes in Cuba often result in damage to lightweight structures, such as the roofs of homes, as well as disruptions to electrical and communication lines. Significant structural damage can occur depending on the tornado's strength and duration.
How common are tornadoes in Cuba?
Tornadoes are relatively uncommon in Cuba but have been recorded during periods of atmospheric instability, particularly in the western regions of the island.
What steps are taken by authorities after a tornado in Cuba?
Authorities typically conduct preliminary damage assessments, repair essential services like electricity and communication lines, and provide aid to affected families to ensure safety and recovery.