Two strong earthquakes occurred in southern Cuba on Sunday, just before Hurricane Rafael and Oscar had weakened the beach.
According to the US Geological Survey, the first tremor, measuring 5.9 magnitude, occurred at around 11 am ( local time ) off the coast of Bartolome Maso in Granma province. An hour afterwards, a more powerful 6.8 magnitude quake hit the exact location at a level of 14.6 yards.
Citizens rushed into the streets in fear after the earthquakes, especially given the severe weather conditions before in the week, were already experiencing.
The US Tsunami Warning System confirmed that the earthquakes did n’t pose a storm threat despite the severe effect.
The disasters damaged homes and system, especially in eastern and central Cuba. State media reported cracked windows, collapsed buildings, and damaged energy lines in cities like Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Caney de las Mercedes.
Despite the damage, the news organization AFP claims that no casualties have been reported so far.
Many people are now dealing with hours-long power outages and a severe economic crisis caused by soaring inflation and a lack of basic commodities, making the challenges even more difficult.
Inhabitants of Bayamo, a town with a population of approximately 140, 000, described the powerful shaking, with city wires swaying and houses rattling. In Santiago de Cuba, the region’s second-largest area, houses trembled, and persons scrambled to health.
Livan Chavez, a machinist from Bayamo, told AFP,” Persons got scared. People ran out of the homes in a very afraid state. Another tenant, Karen Rodriguez, noted that some homes in her little town had walls and roofs decline.
These spasms occur as Cuba recovers from a number of man-made and natural catastrophe. The beach was just hit by Hurricane Oscar, which caused widespread destruction, and Hurricane Rafael, which knocked out the national electricity grid, leaving million without power.
People ‘ outrage over the incessant blackouts and worsening living conditions sparked rare protests that resulted in the arrest of a number of people.
Miguel Diaz-Canel, leader of Cuba, addressed the country on social media, apologizing for the damage and promising to make progress in repairing and assessing the damage. He emphasised that the government’s priority is to” save lives” amidst these overlapping crises.
The area around Santiago de Cuba is near the fault line that separates the North American and Caribbean sheets, and it is not unusual for geological action. Government issued a warning to people to stay watch for additional spasms after over 15 aftershocks were felt following the initial quakes, according to local experts.
Many of Cuba’s northeast region is in desperate need of support and recovery efforts as a result of the two disasters, hurricanes and earthquakes.
