Cuba Shaken by Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake in Eastern Region

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Cuba, affecting Santiago de Cuba and surrounding areas. The quake registered as the strongest many residents have felt, causing alarm and some reported damage. No tsunami threat has been issued, but the region continues to face challenges from recent natural disasters.

A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 shook eastern Cuba, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located off Cuba’s southeastern coast in Granma province, close to Bartolome Maso, an area historically significant as the headquarters of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution. This seismic event was said to be the strongest felt by many residents in Santiago de Cuba and the surrounding regions throughout their lives, causing considerable alarm and some structural damage.

Eastern Cuba is notably seismically active, with the region around Santiago experiencing frequent earthquakes due to a fault line that delineates the boundary between the North American plate and the Caribbean plate. This latest earthquake follows a series of recent natural disasters affecting the island, including Hurricane Oscar in October and Hurricane Rafael, which led to widespread power outages affecting 10 million residents. The region’s vulnerability to such seismic events is compounded by the prevalence of older buildings that are less resilient to natural disasters.

In summary, the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Cuba has left residents shaken and caused some structural damage in an area still recovering from previous natural disasters. Although there is no tsunami threat following this quake, the incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the region as it grapples with recovery efforts and the implications of its geographic location in a seismically active zone.

Original Source: www.northweststar.com.au