A tornado unexpectedly swept through Varadero on Thursday evening, inflicting substantial property damage. As of now, there have been no confirmed reports of fatalities or serious injuries.
Eyewitnesses shared on social media that the disaster began as a waterspout that made landfall, rapidly transforming into a tornado. Witnesses recounted seeing a colossal funnel, accompanied by red lightning and powerful wind gusts, which sparked panic among the locals.
"People reported seeing a massive funnel with red lightning and intense winds that, although brief, caused extensive damage," shared a Facebook user, IsabelVlogs, who was among the first to document the event.
The path of destruction left behind included roofs torn from several homes, toppled streetlights, fallen transformers, and cables strewn across the ground. The wind's force even lifted water tank covers.
Several roads became impassable due to fallen trees and branches, including First Avenue in Varadero, one of the resort's main thoroughfares.
Visual Evidence of the Tornado's Impact
A security camera captured the exact moment the tornado tore through the area. The footage, shared by journalist Christian Arboláez from Cárdenas, showed debris flying and chaos erupting in mere seconds. The video has garnered over 43,000 views on Facebook.
"Residents agree that it all happened in just a few seconds, but it was enough to cause significant material damage in the area. No official reports of injuries have been released," Arboláez noted in his post.
Response from Local Authorities and Businesses
The Gaviota Tourism Group, a subsidiary of the state-run Gaesa managing hotel facilities in Varadero, reported that their properties were unaffected by the tornado, according to Excelencias Cuba.
Such weather events are not uncommon in the region. Matanzas province, where Varadero is located, has recorded the highest number of tornadoes in western Cuba, with 64 occurrences documented between 1991 and 2020. The majority of tornadoes in Cuba, about 82%, occur between May and July, the same period when this incident took place.
In recent years, Varadero and its surrounding areas have experienced similar phenomena. A waterspout was observed in November 2023, and another near the Hicacos Peninsula in June 2025 lasted about ten minutes without making landfall or causing damage.
As of now, Cuban authorities have not issued any official statements regarding the tornado or the extent of the damage in the affected area.
FAQs About Tornadoes in Varadero
What caused the tornado in Varadero?
The tornado began as a waterspout that touched down in Varadero, quickly escalating into a tornado.
How common are tornadoes in Varadero?
Tornadoes are not uncommon in the Matanzas province, where Varadero is located. The region has seen 64 documented tornadoes between 1991 and 2020.
Were there any injuries reported from the tornado?
At this time, there have been no official confirmations of injuries or fatalities resulting from the tornado.