Earthquakes are frequent in the east of the country, but are always of low intensity, between three and four on the Richter scale. This tremor is one of the strongest recorded in this part of the island.
Cuba is going through a dark period. Barely recovered from the cyclone Rafaelwhose traces are still visible in Havana and which destroyed nearly 500 already weakened houses in the capital, the east of the island was hit on Sunday by a strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, according to initial reports.
The epicenter was located between Cuba and Jamaica. The quake occurred in the province of Las Tunas, a deprived region of the Caribbean’s largest island. In addition to the initial 6.8 earthquake, there was at least one aftershock measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale.
According to reports from Cubans living in areas close to Santiago, the country’s second largest city, many homes have collapsed and the walls of many others are weakened. In the east of the island, unlike Havana, many homes are still built of wood. Inhabitants have therefore rushed to the streets, where they are expected to sleep tonight.
New disaster for the island
Earthquakes are frequent in eastern Cuba, particularly in Santiago, but they are always of low intensity, between three and four on the Richter scale. In the streets of Santiago, numerous signs warn residents of the measures to take in the event of an earthquake. While Cuba’s civil protection services have historically been highly efficient and accustomed to managing hurricanes and evacuating populations as a precautionary measure, this November 10 earthquake is a new catastrophe for the island.
After hurricane Oscar which hit the Guantánamo region (near Santiago) in October, causing extensive material damage, seven deaths and flooding, the country has been hit by one hard blow after another. The Cuban electricity system collapsed for a week in mid-October, and Havana was hard hit by Hurricane Rafael last Thursday. Electricity, cell phone networks and the Internet are still far from being fully restored.
But for Cubans, the real hurricane is yet to come. His name is Donald Trump. After the 240 measures taken against the island during his first term, the president-elect has promised to particularly step up sanctions against the Cuban regime and people.