A powerful earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter scale struck eastern Cuba on Sunday, exacerbating the already challenging conditions for residents recovering from recent hurricanes and widespread blackouts.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake’s epicenter was situated approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Bartolome Maso. Tremors were felt throughout eastern Cuba, impacting major cities such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo, with reports of shaking reaching as far as Jamaica.
Although residents experienced significant shaking, there have been no immediate reports of severe damage or injuries within Cuba. In Santiago, the nation’s second-largest city, people hurried into the streets, still rattled from the quake. Yolanda Tabío, a 76-year-old local, recounted how neighbors gathered in their doorways in fear, noting that she felt at least two aftershocks but had not received news of any serious harm or damage within her circle.
“The walls were moving, everything was shaking,” she told The Associated Press, capturing the level of fear among those who experienced the tremor.
Witnesses shared accounts of screams echoing through the streets, and while some reported only minor damage, others in the small town of Pilon posted images of cracked walls and damaged roofs on social media—issues likely exacerbated by the age and deterioration of many buildings in Cuba.
The earthquake strikes at a difficult time for Cuba, which has recently been lashed by natural disasters. Just days before the quake, Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, impacted western Cuba, causing widespread power outages and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents as homes were destroyed.
In the preceding weeks, Cuba grappled with an ongoing energy crisis that led to prolonged blackouts affecting daily life across the island. Following a prior hurricane that claimed six lives, demonstrations have emerged in response to the prolonged hardships faced by the population. As Cuba continues to navigate these testing times, the recent earthquake adds further strain to a nation already seeking stability and recovery.
Credit: ABC News
