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 do the depth and magnitude of an earthquake influence its potential for damage?
**Interview with Dr. Ana López, Seismologist at the National Center for Seismological Research (Cenais)**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. López. Can you explain what happened in Cuba today with these earthquakes?
**Dr. López:** Thank you for having me. Today, we experienced two significant earthquakes in the eastern region of Cuba. The first occurred at 10:50 AM, with a magnitude of 6.7, located 48 kilometers southeast of Pilón in the Granma province. This was quickly followed by another quake at 11:49 AM, which registered at magnitude 5.9 and was 32 kilometers southeast of Pilón.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite a series of events. Was there any damage reported from these earthquakes?
**Dr. López:** As of now, there have been no confirmed reports of damage to people or property. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to assess any impacts.
**Interviewer:** Since these earthquakes were relatively deep, at about 10 kilometers, does that affect the potential for damage?
**Dr. López:** Yes, generally speaking, deeper earthquakes tend to have less impact on the surface compared to shallow ones. However, the magnitude is a critical factor too. While a 6.7 earthquake can still cause significant shaking, the depth helps mitigate some damage.
**Interviewer:** What advice would you give to residents in the affected areas following these earthquakes?
**Dr. López:** I would urge residents to stay alert, prepare emergency kits if they haven’t done so, and follow any guidelines from local authorities. It’s also essential to engage in safety drills and know how to react during an earthquake to minimize risk.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. López, for your insights and expertise. We hope the situation remains stable.
**Dr. López:** Thank you. It’s essential to remain vigilant, and we appreciate your coverage on this important matter.