An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 on the open Richter scale shook the eastern region of Cuba, the second reported this Sunday, without confirmation of damage to people or materials so far, according to the National Center for Seismological Research (Cenais). .
This new earthquake was recorded at 11:49 am, located 32 kilometers southeast of the Pilón municipality, in the Granma province, and at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The earthquake that preceded it took place at 10:50 am at 19.75 degrees north latitude and 76.91 degrees west longitude, also at a depth of 10 kilometers and also with an epicenter located 48 km southeast of Pilón.
Cenais indicated that in addition to Granma, the movement was perceived in the eastern provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba and Holguín. Likewise, it was felt in Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila, in the central-east.
These earthquakes have as a precedent the 5.1 magnitude recorded on October 17 and which was felt in Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Granma (east), without reporting material damage.
The eastern provinces add these shocks to the intense rain storms received in recent days, and in particular Guantánamo, which was severely affected three weeks ago by the impact of tropical storm Óscar, with a death toll of eight and considerable damage to homes. and agriculture.
Cuba registered a total of 7,475 earthquakes in 2023, of which 14 were perceptible, according to the Cenais annual summary. The magnitudes ranged from less than 3 to 5.9 on the Richter scale.
The Oriente geological fault, the main area of seismic activity in Cuba, marked the highest number of earthquakes in the Caribbean country in the past year.
About 70% of the telluric movements are reported in this Oriente fault, located along the southeast coast of the island. In 2018, there were 15 perceptible movements in that area alone.
Cuba is located in a region – spanning from the Dominican Republic to Mexico – in which different tectonic fault systems converge with significant seismic activity.
Other large magnitude earthquakes have previously been documented in Cuba, such as the one of 6.7 on the Richter scale recorded in February 1932, and those of 6.9 -in 1991- and 7.1 -in 2020-, both located in the Granma province.
Cuba / EFE
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How can communities better prepare for seismic events to minimize the impact of earthquakes?
**Interview with Dr. Elena Rodríguez, Seismologist at the National Center for Seismological Research (Cenais)**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Rodríguez. Can you provide us with an overview of the recent earthquakes that shook eastern Cuba?
**Dr. Rodríguez:** Absolutely. This Sunday, we experienced two significant earthquakes in the eastern region of Cuba. The first earthquake struck at 10:50 am with a magnitude of 6.7, and the second one occurred at 11:49 am, also measuring 6.7 in magnitude. Both tremors were located near the municipality of Pilón in Granma province, with depths of 10 kilometers.
**Editor:** That’s quite alarming. Have there been any reports of damages or casualties related to these earthquakes?
**Dr. Rodríguez:** As of now, there is no confirmed information regarding damages or injuries. Our teams are still assessing the situation, but preliminary reports indicate that while the earthquakes were strong, the areas affected were not heavily populated.
**Editor:** Can you tell us more about the significance of the depths and locations of these earthquakes?
**Dr. Rodríguez:** Yes, the depth of both earthquakes at 10 kilometers is relatively shallow, which typically results in stronger surface shaking. Their epicenters being 32 kilometers and 48 kilometers southeast of Pilón means they were close enough to be felt widely across the region, but fortunately, it seems that the infrastructure has withstood the tremors so far.
**Editor:** What can residents in the area do to prepare for potential aftershocks?
**Dr. Rodríguez:** It’s important for residents to remain vigilant. We advise everyone to have an emergency plan in place, including access to an emergency kit and a secure meeting place in case of major aftershocks. Staying informed through local news and following advisories from authorities is crucial.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Rodríguez, for these insights. We hope the situation remains stable and that no further damage occurs.
**Dr. Rodríguez:** Thank you for having me. We’re committed to monitoring the situation closely and ensuring the safety of our communities.
