Strong earthquake shakes eastern Cuba

(CLO) An earthquake struck eastern Cuba on Sunday, shaking buildings in the island nation's second-largest city, Santiago de Cuba, and the surrounding countryside.

The earthquake, listed by the US Geological Survey as having a magnitude of 6.8, struck off the southeastern coast of Cuba at a depth of 14 kilometers. About an hour earlier, a magnitude 5.9 quake was also measured nearby.

Cuban authorities said there were more than 15 notable aftershocks following the first two quakes and warned locals to be on guard as more could follow. The Cuban capital, Havana, was not affected by the quake.

The earthquake added to the difficulties in Cuba, which is still struggling to recover from a series of hurricanes. Much of eastern Cuba is still recovering from Hurricane Oscar in October. Last week, Cuba's national power grid collapsed after Hurricane Rafael swept across the western part of the island, leaving 10 million people without power.

An area affected by the earthquake in Cuba. Photo: BeingsObserver

"There have been landslides, damage to houses and power lines," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X. "We have begun to assess the damage... the first and most important thing is to save lives."

Some residents in the area said the earthquake was stronger than any they had experienced in their lifetime. They said houses and buildings shook violently, with dishes, glasses and vases falling off shelves.

"We have felt earthquakes before, but nothing like this," said Griselda Fernandez, a Santiago resident.

State media published images of roofs and facades of concrete block houses that collapsed in the quake. Many of the images showed structural damage to ceilings, walls, window columns, and public infrastructure.

Most of Cuba's seismic activity takes place in the area around Santiago - a fault line that runs along the island's southeast coast, marking the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, TVB)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cuba-lai-chiu-them-dong-dat-sau-mua-bao-khien-tinh-hinh-tro-nen-kho-khan-hon-post320810.html