Survivor Shares Shocking Account of Lightning Strike in Holguín

Irelemis Ortiz del Rosario, one of the individuals injured after a lightning strike in Moa that resulted in three deaths and four injuries, shared a gripping account of the incident. "I was on my way home when it started raining and lightning began. A group of us took shelter under a canopy near the road. We stayed there to avoid the rain and thunder. After about an hour, it was still raining heavily when a lightning bolt struck the tarp," Ortiz del Rosario recounted to local media.

Residing in the town of Yamanigüey, in the Moa municipality, Ortiz detailed the moments following the lightning strike. "I felt my vision blur and a strong electric shock hit me, knocking me to the ground. It threw me about two meters away. When I regained consciousness, I saw people lying on the ground, those who were also seeking shelter from the rain," he continued.

Ortiz mentioned that he couldn't identify others around him as he didn't know anyone there. "After the lightning hit, I tried to stand up but couldn't walk. I had to crawl about 100 meters to the road, injuring my knees in the process. I could only use one hand because the other was cramped," he described.

Once on the road, Ortiz signaled to passing vehicles for help. While several ignored him, one eventually stopped and took them straight to the hospital. "It was a tough experience, seeing so many people on the ground, unresponsive, with no pulse. There must be at least three fatalities because I saw them try to lift some, and they didn't move. I grabbed one by the leg, and he didn't react," Ortiz noted.

Regarding his medical condition, Ortiz is awaiting an ultrasound to assess his internal organs. He added that he has regained the ability to grip with his hand, walk, and move his feet, showing no visible symptoms of the incident. "Only God knows the ordeal we went through," concluded Ortiz del Rosario, visibly shaken.

Identifying the Victims

The three individuals who perished in this tragic lightning strike ranged in age from 33 to 36. They have been identified as:

• Eniolquis Romero Terrero, 33, from Guamá, Baracoa.
• Leonel Velázquez Legrá, 34, from Armando Mestre, Moa.
• Lázaro Rodríguez Peña, 36, from the city of Holguín.

The Injured Survivors

In addition to the deceased, four others were injured in the incident:

• Yuxander Robles Robles from El Jobo, Sagua de Tánamo: Experienced body tremors and numbness in feet, now stabilized.
• Irelemis Ortiz del Rosario from Yamanigüey, Moa: Suffered numbness in upper and lower limbs, now stabilized.
• Lisbeth Pajan Silot from La Playa, Moa: Lost consciousness and had eye abrasions, remains under medical care.
• Dantry Revé Quiala from Sagua de Tánamo: Sustained abrasions on left knee and right ankle, now stabilized.

The Impact of Lightning in Cuba

Lightning strikes have claimed at least 1,892 lives in Cuba between 1987 and 2023, averaging 51 deaths annually, according to a recent study by the Institute of Geodesy and Astronomy (IGA). Although the death rate has declined over the decades (69 per year in the 1990s, 56 in the 2000s, 37 in the 2010s), the risks remain significant.

Neobil Vega Batista, a master in sciences and head of the Instrumental and Technological Development Department at IGA, emphasized that the damage extends beyond loss of life, involving complex and hard-to-quantify economic impacts.

Since 2024, organizations like IGA, the Meteorology Institute, the University of Havana, the Fire Department, and the Fire Protection Agency (APCI) have been part of an Early Warning System and vulnerability study aimed at mitigating the devastating effects of these natural phenomena.

Recent Lightning-Related Fatalities in Cuba

The tragic event in Cupey is part of a series of fatal lightning strikes in Cuba this year:

• June – Bauta, Artemisa: Two teenagers, aged 13 and 16, were killed while playing soccer outdoors during a storm. On the same day, a three-year-old drowned in Playa Baracoa.
• August – Manicaragua, Villa Clara: Three teenagers died, and a young girl was injured by a lightning strike during an afternoon storm.
• August – Colón, Matanzas: A 42-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning while working near La Luisa community.
• September – City of Holguín: A man died from an electric shock on his terrace while handling a beam that inadvertently contacted high-voltage wires.

Additionally, in July, a group of young people narrowly avoided a lightning strike while playing soccer in the rain in Ciego de Ávila. Meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda described the incident as "reckless and potentially fatal."