6.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Eastern Cuba Amidst Ongoing Crises

HAVANA, November 10, 2024 — A significant earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 jolted eastern Cuba on Sunday, adding to the woes of a region already battered by recent hurricanes and prolonged blackouts. The quake's epicenter was approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Bartolome Maso, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The tremors were felt widely across eastern Cuba, impacting cities such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo. Residents in Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city, described scenes of chaos as people rushed out into the streets. Yolanda Tabío, a 76-year-old local, recounted the fear that gripped the city, noting, "You had to see how everything was moving, the walls, everything."

Although there have been no immediate reports of significant injuries or widespread damage, social media posts from Pilon showed minor structural damages, with images of cracked walls and crumbling roofs, highlighting the vulnerability of many buildings in the area.

This seismic event follows a series of natural and infrastructural calamities that have tested the resilience of Cubans. Just days ago, on Wednesday, Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, ravaged western Cuba, causing extensive power outages and destruction of homes, leading to mass evacuations. Prior to that, in October, the island suffered from days-long blackouts due to an energy crisis, followed by another hurricane that claimed at least six lives.

The combination of these events has not only strained the physical infrastructure but has also sparked small protests across the island, reflecting the growing frustration among the populace over the continuous hardships.

Local media in Jamaica also reported feeling the earthquake's effects, indicating the significant reach of the seismic activity.

As Cuba grapples with this latest natural disaster, the focus remains on assessing the damage, ensuring the safety of the populace, and restoring normalcy to an island that has seen more than its fair share of challenges in recent months.