495 aftershocks of the earthquake have been recorded in Cuba, with over 20 being noticeable in Granma

The National Seismological Service of Cuba updated the situation in the country following the strong earthquake that shook the eastern part of the island on Sunday morning.

As of 9:06 PM, 495 aftershocks have been reported. Of the total, more than 20 have been noticeable in the mentioned province, according to the station Radio Granma Manzanillo.

Specialists are monitoring seismic activity following the earthquake located southeast of Pilón, in Granma.

For his part, the governor of Santiago de Cuba, Manuel Falcón Hernández, urged the population to have a backpack or bag with essential belongings: identification documents, food, medicines, a sheet or blanket, and anything that could be useful for staying in safe places.

Additionally, keep the house keys handy and clear the exit routes to the street to prevent falls in case it becomes necessary to go outside.

"There is no risk of a tsunami," he emphasized on his Facebook wall.

Falcón Hernández urged everyone to pay attention to official media and the profiles of authorities and official institutions, adding that "many false news stories are circulating on social media."

By 5:00 PM on Sunday, the National Seismological Service recorded at least 300 aftershocks from the earthquake, of which at least 15 were noticeable to the public.

Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, First Secretary of the Party in Santiago de Cuba, reported that "a premonitory earthquake of magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale was recorded, followed by a main earthquake of 6.7, with more than 300 aftershocks, of which 15 were perceptible," with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 5.9.

Hours earlier, Dr. Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service of Cuba at the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), warned that the situation is quite complicated following the occurrence of two earthquakes.

"The situation is quite complicated; there are many reported damages in Pilón. We need any damage reports you may have," he stated on Facebook.

Both in the coastal municipality of Pilón in Granma and in Santiago de Cuba, damage has been reported to homes and state buildings.