On Sunday, eastern Cuba experienced a 6.8 magnitude earthquake primarily affecting Santiago de Cuba and surrounding areas. Minor damage was reported, and residents expressed various degrees of shock. The event follows a series of natural disasters affecting the island, complicating recovery efforts due to existing power outages caused by recent hurricanes. No tsunami threat has been issued.
A significant earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck eastern Cuba, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The quake originated near Granma province, close to the municipality of Bartolome Maso, infamous as the former headquarters of Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution. Residents in Santiago de Cuba, the country’s second largest city, described the earthquake as one of the strongest they had ever experienced, with violent shaking causing disturbances within buildings. Though some damage was noted in Pilon, reports indicate that overall injuries and significant damage were not widespread. Residents experienced considerable distress, with many fleeing to the streets for safety.
Cuba faces a recurrent threat from natural disasters, with this earthquake following recent turmoil caused by Hurricane Oscar in October and Hurricane Rafael, which resulted in a nationwide power outage. The eastern region, particularly Santiago, is prone to seismic activity due to the fault line along its southeastern coast, located at the juncture of the North American plate and the Caribbean plate. Communications remain challenging due to ongoing rolling blackouts in the area, stemming from previous hurricane impacts, complicating recovery efforts.
In conclusion, the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that recently struck eastern Cuba has left the region reeling but thankfully resulted in limited physical damage. Given the island’s history with natural disasters, ongoing recovery from recent hurricanes complicates the situation. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as residents acclimatize to the aftermath of the earthquake while contending with the power grid’s instability.
Original Source: www.northweststar.com.au
