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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**PAA Related Questions:**
**Interview with Seismologist Dr. Ana Torres on Recent Earthquakes in Cuba**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Torres. As a seismologist, can you give us an overview of the recent earthquakes that struck eastern and central Cuba?
**Dr. Torres:** Thank you for having me. This past Sunday, two significant earthquakes were recorded near the municipality of Pilón in Granma, measuring 6.0 and 6.7 on the Richter scale. These were the 13th and 14th earthquakes of this kind reported in 2024. It’s a concerning trend, particularly for the regions already dealing with recovery from Hurricane Oscar.
**Interviewer:** What can you tell us about the impact these earthquakes have had on the local population and infrastructure?
**Dr. Torres:** The preliminary reports indicate that there have been multiple damages, including total and partial collapses of homes and state buildings. Infrastructure such as electrical poles has also been affected, leading to outages. Fortunately, as of now, there have been no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, which is a relief given the magnitude of the quakes.
**Interviewer:** President Miguel Díaz-Canel has urged residents to evacuate to open spaces. How important is this advice in the wake of such seismic activity?
**Dr. Torres:** It’s crucial. When earthquakes occur, there is a risk of aftershocks, which can be dangerous, especially in structurally compromised buildings. Evacuating to open spaces minimizes the risk of injury from falling debris. The government is right to emphasize safety first, as we still need to assess the full extent of the damages.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned aftershocks. How common are they, and what can the residents expect going forward?
**Dr. Torres:** Aftershocks are quite common following significant seismic events. The National Center for Seismological Research has already recorded around 300 aftershocks related to the recent quakes, with 15 of those being significant enough to be felt. We advise residents to remain vigilant for these aftershocks over the coming days and weeks.
**Interviewer:** What measures should residents take to stay safe during this period?
**Dr. Torres:** Residents should heed the advice of authorities, stay away from damaged structures, and avoid tall buildings if possible. It’s essential to have an emergency plan in place, identify safe zones, and be aware of evacuation routes. Staying connected with local news and following updates from emergency services is vital.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, how do such natural disasters impact local recovery efforts from previous calamities, such as Hurricane Oscar?
**Dr. Torres:** The accumulation of disasters puts immense strain on recovery efforts. The eastern part of Cuba is still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Oscar, so the additional challenge of these earthquakes may slow recovery and complicate relief efforts. The focus now will be on addressing these concurrent challenges—ensuring immediate safety while continuing to assist those affected by the hurricane.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Torres, for your insights during this challenging time for Cuba. We appreciate your expertise.
**Dr. Torres:** Thank you for having me, and please stay safe.
