Man Dies from Lightning Strike in Baracoa

A devastating incident has recently shaken the community of Cabacú in Baracoa, Guantánamo: a local resident lost his life after being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm on Wednesday. The victim, known as Papín and an employee at the local slaughterhouse, was at his home in Vega Larga when a lightning bolt hit a nearby pole. The electric current bounced and reached him inside his house, causing his immediate death, according to a source who spoke to influencer Luis Suárez.

Suárez initially reported on the incident via his Facebook profile, mentioning that the man was inside his home when the lightning struck, but provided no further details. A source accessible to the influencer shared more insights into the event. They explained that the victim was cooking and holding a skimmer or ladle when the lightning struck a pole outside, apparently transmitting electricity to the electric stove, which electrocuted him upon contact.

According to this account, the man's wife, who is a nurse at the hospital, was beside him but unable to act in time; she attempted resuscitation, but he died instantly. The source noted that he did not suffer burns, suggesting a cardiac arrest as the cause of death.

Understanding Lightning Strikes

Local residents confirmed that the tragedy occurred within the man's own home, though some doubted this detail. Experts point out that lightning can directly strike an object, cause a side flash to a nearby person, or travel through the ground to a person. Additionally, the current can transfer from one person to another if both are in contact with the energy source.

Relatives and friends of the deceased in Cabacú expressed profound sorrow over his sudden passing and the horrific circumstances surrounding it. As of now, neither authorities nor official provincial media have reported on the tragic event. Comments on social media posts indicated that at least two similar incidents have occurred in the municipality within the past two months.

Recent Weather Conditions and Warnings

Radio Baracoa reported a rainy and lightning-filled afternoon on Wednesday in the Villa Primada of Cuba. Meanwhile, a severe local storm in the Romelié community, Manuel Tames municipality, caused tree falls and damage to homes, as well as disruptions to electricity and telephone services. Authorities had previously warned of heavy rainfall expected in the province over the next 48 hours.

Lightning Fatalities in Cuba: A Grim Trend

A study by Cuba's Institute of Geodesy and Astronomy (IGA) revealed that thunderstorms have caused at least 1,892 deaths in Cuba from 1987 to 2023, with an average of 51 deaths annually. Although the trend shows a decrease (69 annual deaths in the 1990s, 56 in the 2000s, and 37 in the 2010s), the risks remain significant.

Earlier this month, a tragic event in the rural community of Cupey, Moa municipality, Holguín province, saw three young people killed and four others injured by a lightning strike. This year has witnessed other fatal incidents due to electrical discharges. Here's a timeline of some confirmed events:

• June – Bauta, Artemisa: Two teenagers, aged 13 and 16, died after being struck by lightning while playing soccer outdoors during a thunderstorm.
• August – Manicaragua, Villa Clara: Three children lost their lives, and another was injured when lightning struck during an afternoon storm.
• August – Colón, Matanzas: A 42-year-old woman perished after being hit by lightning while working in agriculture near the community of La Luisa.
• September – Holguín City: A man died from an electric shock on his terrace while handling a beam that accidentally touched high-voltage wires.

Additionally, in July, a group of young people narrowly avoided being struck by lightning while playing soccer in the rain in Ciego de Ávila. Meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda called it a "recklessness that could have cost them their lives."