CubaHeadlines

Earthquake Aftershocks in Cuba Reach 495, Over 20 Felt in Granma

Monday, November 11, 2024 by Charlotte Gomez

Earthquake Aftershocks in Cuba Reach 495, Over 20 Felt in Granma
Aftershocks of the earthquake in Cuba - Image by © Manuel Falcón Hernández / Facebook

The Cuban National Seismological Service has updated the public on the seismic activity following the powerful earthquake that struck the eastern part of the island on Sunday morning. As of 9:06 pm, a total of 495 aftershocks have been recorded. Of these, more than 20 were notably felt in the province of Granma, as reported by Radio Granma Manzanillo.

Experts continue to monitor the seismic activity closely after the quake, which was centered southeast of Pilón in Granma. Meanwhile, Manuel Falcón Hernández, the governor of Santiago de Cuba, advised residents to keep an emergency bag ready with essential items: identification documents, food, medications, a blanket, and anything necessary to stay safe. He also emphasized the importance of having house keys accessible and ensuring clear exit paths to avoid falls in case of evacuation.

"There is no tsunami risk," Falcón Hernández reassured on his Facebook page. He urged the public to rely on official media sources and the profiles of authorities and institutions, warning that "a lot of false information is circulating on social media."

By 5:00 pm on Sunday, the National Seismological Service had registered at least 300 aftershocks, with no fewer than 15 being perceptible to the population. Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba, stated that there was "a premonitory earthquake of magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale, a main earthquake of 6.7, and over 300 aftershocks, 15 of which were felt," with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 5.9.

Significant Damage Reported

Earlier, Dr. Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the Cuban National Seismological Service at the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), highlighted the severity of the situation following the two significant quakes. "The situation is quite complicated, with many reports of damage in Pilón. We need any damage reports," he noted on Facebook.

Both in the coastal municipality of Pilón in Granma and in Santiago de Cuba, there have been reports of damages to homes and government buildings, underlining the impact of these seismic events.

© CubaHeadlines 2024