The National Seismological Service has recorded at least 300 aftershocks following the earthquake that struck southeast of Pilón in Granma this past Sunday. Of these tremors, at least 15 have been felt by the local population.
Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba, announced on her Facebook page that as of 5:00 PM Sunday, the National Seismological Service had reported "a premonitory earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, a main earthquake at 6.7, and more than 300 aftershocks, with 15 being perceptible." She added that the magnitudes of the noticeable tremors range from 2.5 to 5.9.
Johnson emphasized the importance of remaining in open spaces and advised people to have a backpack ready with essential items such as documents, dry food, blankets, medications, and water to ensure safety.
Precautionary Measures in Response to Earthquakes
Earlier, Johnson communicated via national television that after the earthquakes were detected, local leaders visited the 11 high-rise buildings in the provincial capital, which range from eight to 18 stories. They advised residents to stay in open areas.
She urged the public to evacuate in an orderly and disciplined manner to avoid accidents. "It's not the same to evacuate hurriedly during such an event, which poses risks like tripping or falling, as it is to do so calmly, focusing on lower areas," she remarked. "We have experience with these phenomena, and afterwards, we will move to the city school polygon of July 26, which is relatively close, especially to the 18-story buildings," she stated.
Assessing Damage and Keeping the Public Informed
Throughout Sunday afternoon, officials planned to assess the damage and keep the population informed about necessary measures to take in such situations.
Meanwhile, Dr. Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service at the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), warned on social media that the situation remains quite serious following the two major earthquakes. On Facebook, Arango expressed that "the situation is quite complicated, with significant damage reported in Pilón, and we need damage reports if available."
In Santiago de Cuba, several social media users have reported damages to homes and state buildings, notably the cracking of walls.