The brief moments of terror that struck Pilón in Granma province on November 10 have forever changed the life of Yaniseli Ramírez Tejeda, a 25-year-old mother. “It was a tremendous noise,” Ramírez recounted to the state-run newspaper La Demajagua, recalling how the ground began to shake while she was cooking outside with her two-year-old son.
Without hesitation, this courageous mother rushed out with her child to where her husband was holding their 10-month-old baby. In a desperate attempt to save her daughter, a panicked neighbor tossed the child over the fence. When the initial tremor subsided, Ramírez hurried back inside to change her daughter’s clothes, only to be caught off-guard by a second quake. The ceiling and interior walls collapsed onto her, injuring her right arm and hip. Instinctively, her four-year-old daughter Samira clung to her legs, avoiding harm, as she shared with La Demajagua.
The earthquakes, measuring 6.0 and 6.7 in magnitude, left ten people injured and caused damage to at least 3,752 structures throughout southeastern Cuba. The fear of a potential tsunami swept the area, driving residents to flee frantically to higher ground. Ramírez vividly remembers her husband racing up the hill with their children in his arms, leaving behind the debris and fear in search of safety. “My husband ran faster than Juan Torena with the kids, uphill,” she remarked.
Community Devastation and Resilience
El Bon neighborhood was left in ruins, with homes, schools, and the pier completely destroyed. “We are constantly on alert for aftershocks, and we can't take risks with our kids. When they feel them, my daughter cries, saying she's scared,” shared the young mother.
After her maternity leave ends, Ramírez will return to her job as a laundry assistant at Félix Lugones Hospital in the southernmost municipality of Granma. She remains optimistic, stating, “For my children, for the family, we have to start over.”
Despite her determination, the fear continues to grip the eastern Cuban population, especially in Granma, as thousands of aftershocks follow the significant 6.7 tremor from November 10. On Tuesday, a 4.2 magnitude quake, felt across several municipalities in Granma and Santiago de Cuba, once again incited panic among residents.