Havana - Cuba qualifies as one of the most affected areas by thunderboalts or lightnings in the world, given the great electrical activity that characterizes the storms in the country, said Manuel Iturralde, President of the Cuban Society of Geology.

The electric shocks or flares are associated with severe local storms, when combined heavy rains, hail, tornadoes, waterspouts and destructive gusts of wind occur, although occasionally they can occur in isolation on clear days, known as lightning.

Iturralde explained that the most prone months to the occurrence of these phenomena are those of summer, associated with convective processes that are produced by the great heating of the air, in contact with the earth's surface.

The most frequent thunderstorms last from one to one and a half hours, between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm local time, although they can also happen at other times, as a result of the progress of tropical waves, troughs and cold fronts, the Cuban scientist stated.

He also recalled that between 1987 and 2011, 1,522 victims were reported due to flares in Cuba, most frequently in the months of July to September.

In that sense, he stressed that the danger of electric discharges is latent throughout the year and at all hours; it is enough to combine the appropriate atmospheric conditions with a negligent attitude.

This is the biggest cause of death from weather phenomena in Cuba, said the Cuban outstanding geologist.

'Not all people die when hit by electric shocks, but the fact of having been subjected to a current of many amperes and thousands of degrees of temperature is enough to cause serious consequences for human health,' he stated.

'It is therefore necessary to act in a responsible manner, as it is a mortal enemy,' Iturralde finally warned.