The National Seismological Service of Cuba has reported that since a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck in the early hours of December 23rd in Santiago de Cuba province, there have been a total of 437 aftershocks recorded to date. The earthquake, which had its epicenter in Guamá municipality in eastern Cuba, has been followed by numerous secondary tremors, with three of these being felt by the local population, according to the latest update.
An updated report released on January 1st on the Facebook Portal of CENAIS (National Center for Seismological Research) noted that, in addition to the 437 aftershocks from December's quake, there have been 8,842 aftershocks from an earlier earthquake on November 10th, which had magnitudes of 6.0 and 6.7. Of these, 140 were noticeable to the Cuban people.
The December earthquake raised concerns in the region due to landslides and blockages on major transportation routes. The road connecting Granma and Santiago de Cuba provinces, one of the hardest-hit areas, was closed to traffic because of significant landslides that obstructed passage.
While no fatalities have been reported so far, the tremor resulted in considerable damage to infrastructure, particularly affecting homes and public buildings. Geology and seismology experts have stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring of seismic activity in this region.
Understanding the Recent Seismic Activity in Cuba
What caused the recent earthquakes in Cuba?
The earthquakes were caused by tectonic movements along the Caribbean plate boundary, which is a seismically active region.
How many aftershocks have been recorded since the December earthquake?
There have been 437 aftershocks recorded since the December 23rd earthquake in Santiago de Cuba.
What impact did the earthquakes have on infrastructure in the region?
The earthquakes caused significant damage to infrastructure, particularly affecting homes and public buildings, and resulted in road blockages due to landslides.