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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How is the Cuban government supporting residents in recovery efforts after the recent earthquakes?
**Interview with Dr. Elena Rodríguez, Seismologist at the National Center for Seismological Research (Cenais)**
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Rodríguez, for joining us today. Can you tell us more about the recent earthquakes that affected eastern and central provinces in Cuba?
**Dr. Rodríguez**: Thank you for having me. This past Sunday, we recorded two significant earthquakes, measuring 6.0 and 6.7 on the Richter scale. These earthquakes struck near the municipality of Pilón in Granma around mid-morning. Notably, this marks the 13th and 14th earthquakes that we have documented in Cuba this year.
**Interviewer**: What can you tell us about the damage caused by these earthquakes?
**Dr. Rodríguez**: The preliminary reports indicate substantial impacts, including total and partial collapses of homes and state buildings. We’re also seeing cracks in walls and fallen electrical poles. Fortunately, we have no fatalities or injuries reported so far, which is a relief given the scale of these events.
**Interviewer**: That’s a positive development, considering the circumstances. What advice did the authorities provide to the residents following these earthquakes?
**Dr. Rodríguez**: President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged residents, especially in Granma and Santiago de Cuba, to evacuate to open areas to ensure their safety. He emphasized that our primary goal is to save lives. Additionally, we’ve been asking people to remain calm and follow safety protocols, such as staying on the ground floors of tall buildings during aftershocks.
**Interviewer**: How is the recovery process looking so far?
**Dr. Rodríguez**: Currently, provincial authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage to initiate recovery efforts. Our teams are out in the affected areas to evaluate and help facilitate rebuilding efforts. The community has shown remarkable resilience despite these challenges.
**Interviewer**: How have residents been reacting to the earthquakes?
**Dr. Rodríguez**: From reports on social media, many residents were taken by surprise, mentioning how furniture and objects in their homes moved during the tremors. It’s clear that these significant earthquakes have left an emotional impact, but the community’s response has been commendable.
**Interviewer**: how prepared is Cuba for seismic events like these, given that they have occurred multiple times this year?
**Dr. Rodríguez**: We continually strive to improve our preparedness and response systems. Ongoing education and training for citizens are crucial. We also monitor seismic activity closely and conduct regular drills to help people know what to do in case of an earthquake.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for sharing your insights. We wish you and the affected communities a swift recovery.
**Dr. Rodríguez**: Thank you. Together, we will overcome these challenges.