Tremors of two preliminary earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.9 and 6.8 were experienced in Western Cuba on Sunday, November 10, 2024. The earthquakes struck the island just days after Hurricane Rafael made landfall in the region on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. A Category 3 storm, bringing severe flash floods, winds, life-threat surges, and infrastructural damage left people facing hardships.
Recent Hurricane Disasters in Cuba
Just two weeks earlier, Hurricane Oscar also struck the island on Sunday, October 20, 2024, with winds reaching 80 mph. These back-to-back hurricanes have triggered challenging conditions for people living in Cuba and dealing with power outages and electricity.
According to the US Geological Survey, on Sunday, the first earthquake, measuring 5.9 magnitude, struck at 11 am off the coast of Bartolome Maso in Gramma Province. After an hour, another intense earthquake with a magnitude ranging from 6.8 magnitude hit the same area with a depth of 14.6 miles.
Widespread Destructions
The two earthquakes caused widespread destruction to the residents. It damaged their homes and other infrastructure on the island. People immediately rushed out of their homes out of fear after observing continuous weather conditions within the same week.
The State Media reports cracked walls, collapsed roofs, and damaged power lines in several towns of Cuba, including Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Caney de las Mercedes.
Meanwhile, no fatalities have been reported in the region. But the calamity has affected many residents, witnessing hours long power cuts and severe economic crises such as surging inflation and shortages of goods.
Residents Demanding Action
The residents of Bayamo, with a population of around 140,000, described the earthquake shaking and more intensely causing several damages, including street poles swaying and homes rattling.
The residents of Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second-largest city, also reported the buildings trembled and people scrambled to safety.
Amid these ongoing calamities in the region, the island has been struggling to recover from all the damages and destructions, which even led the people to remain without power for several days.
These crises have sparked protests and outrage on the island. Some residents have also been arrested for raising out their frustration violently. They pressed the authorities to resolve and meet their daily necessities and common problems.
What Cuban President Says?
Migual Diaz-Canal, the Cuban President, addressed the nation via his official social media handle. He also acknowledged all the destructions and promised to take action to repair and resolve the destructions that were underway. He stressed that the government’s priority is to ‘save lives’ amidst the ongoing crises in the nation.
Kanishka Malhotra is a seasoned journalist with a deep passion for reporting and uncovering the truth. With a specialization in research and investigative Journalism, she has covered wide range of topics related to social issues, travel, lifestyle, technology, Entertainment and much more. She believes to express and share her creativity to the world through words. With relentless pursuit of knowing and uncovering the truth, Kanishka continues to leave a mark in the world of journalism.
Comments