A heartbreaking incident has left the province of Villa Clara in mourning this Sunday. Three children, aged between 13 and 14, lost their lives due to a lightning strike during a storm in the municipality of Manicaragua. The tragic event, which occurred in the afternoon, also left a 14-year-old girl injured. She is currently hospitalized, as reported by journalist Henry Omar Pérez from the official Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The children who tragically died have been identified as Jorge Alejandro de la Coba Monteagudo, 14, a resident of the United States who was vacationing in the area; Andy Alberto Turiño González, 13; and Analía García Rodríguez, 14. Additionally, the lightning strike injured Diamelis Delgado Granados, 14, who was transported by the Integrated Medical Emergency Service (SIUM) to Santa Clara for specialized medical care.
According to the report, local authorities have acted promptly to address the situation, offering support to those affected and their families. Pérez expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased children.
Details about this tragic event, which abruptly ended the lives of three young children, remain sparse. The loss has left their families and the entire community in deep sorrow and shock.
Earlier in June, a similar incident in the province of Artemisa claimed the lives of two teenagers, aged 13 and 16, while they were playing soccer outdoors in the Pita neighborhood of the Urbano 2 popular council, within the municipality of Bauta. This incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on June 7, when a lightning strike, preceding the rain, fatally struck the boys who died instantly. That day in Bauta was marked by further tragedy, as a separate incident resulted in the drowning death of a three-year-old girl in a house located in Playa Baracoa.
Lightning storms are a common occurrence in Cuba, with experts noting that lightning strikes result in more fatalities than hurricanes. A study by the Institute of Meteorology revealed that between 1987 and 2017, lightning strikes caused an average of 54 deaths annually, totaling 1,742 fatalities over three decades, according to an article by meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda published in the newspaper Invasor, in Ciego de Ávila.
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Understanding Lightning Strike Incidents in Cuba
How frequent are lightning strikes in Cuba?
Lightning storms are quite common in Cuba and often result in more fatalities than hurricanes, according to experts.
What measures are being taken to support the families affected by the tragedy in Villa Clara?
Local authorities have responded swiftly to the incident, providing assistance and support to the affected families.