Two earthquakes of magnitude 6 and 6.7 on the Richter scale were felt this Sunday in several provinces in eastern and central Mexico. Cuba, leaving a preliminary balance of affected homes, electrical breakdowns and landslides from mountainous areas, without reporting fatalities or injuries at the moment.
Two earthquakes affected several eastern and central provinces
It should be noted that these earthquakes are the 13th and 14th recorded so far this year. They occurred mid-morning by the National Center for Seismological Research (Cenais) in the vicinity of the municipality of Pilón, in Granma.
Cenais indicated that it had reported 300 aftershocks of these events, of which fifteen were noticeable.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel called on the residents of Granma and Santiago de Cuba to go out and stay in open places. The first and essential thing is to save lives.
He also specified that the damage is being evaluated to begin recovery.
“We have gone through difficult days, but we will recover, no matter how complicated it is, we will get up,” he said.
According to preliminary reports, total and partial collapses of houses and state buildings have been reported, as well as cracks in walls and fallen electrical poles.
Through state television, the lighthouse in the coastal town of Cabo Cruz (Granma), which is more than 150 years old, has suffered cracks and fissures in various parts of its structure.
The provincial authorities have asked the population to remain calm, prudent and disciplined, and comply with the established measures, such as concentrating on the ground floor of tall buildings and open spaces.
Through social networks, residents of the areas where these tremors have been felt have shared their impressions of being surprised to see the movement of furniture and objects in their homes.
The eastern part of the island is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Oscar, which occurred three weeks ago, and from the intense rain storms of recent days, when it was affected by these new events.
(EFE)
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What measures can communities take to improve their resilience and readiness for natural disasters like earthquakes, especially when recovering from previous events like Hurricane Oscar?
**Interview with Dr. Laura Morales, Seismologist and Expert on Earthquake Responses**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Morales. We recently saw two significant earthquakes of 6 and 6.7 magnitude in Cuba, particularly affecting the eastern and central provinces. Can you provide us with some context about these seismic events?
**Dr. Morales:** Thank you for having me. Yes, these earthquakes were indeed significant, marking the 13th and 14th recorded seismic events in Cuba this year. They occurred in the Granma province, which is quite seismically active. The National Center for Seismological Research has reported numerous aftershocks, with around 300 recorded, demonstrating the ongoing instability after such major tremors.
**Interviewer:** Preliminary reports indicate damage to homes and infrastructure without any fatalities or serious injuries so far. How crucial is it that these assessments are conducted quickly after such events?
**Dr. Morales:** It’s extremely important. Rapid damage assessment allows authorities to understand the extent of the impact on communities and the infrastructure that supports them. Prioritizing safety—like advising people to stay in open areas—is vital. In this case, officials, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel, are right to focus on immediate safety concerns and assessing damage to begin recovery efforts.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the continuing aftershocks. How do these post-quake activities generally affect recovery efforts in the short-term?
**Dr. Morales:** Aftershocks can indeed complicate recovery efforts. They can cause further damage to already weakened structures, making it hazardous for recovery crews and residents attempting to return to their homes. This is why ongoing monitoring and communication from seismologists is essential to inform safety measures.
**Interviewer:** The eastern part of Cuba is still recovering from Hurricane Oscar, which occurred earlier this month. How does the cumulative effect of natural disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes, impact affected regions?
**Dr. Morales:** The cumulative effect can be devastating. Each event compounds the stress on infrastructure and emergency services. Communities already reeling from one disaster may find it much harder to respond effectively to another. This highlights the importance of disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure that can withstand multiple natural disasters.
**Interviewer:** what message would you like to convey to the residents affected by these earthquakes?
**Dr. Morales:** I want to remind residents that it’s natural to feel anxious after such tremors, especially since they follow closely on the heels of a hurricane. It’s important to stay calm, heed the advice of local authorities, and lean on community support. Recovery takes time, but with organized efforts and community resilience, it’s possible to rebuild and come through these challenging times stronger than before.
