Landslide in Santiago de Cuba following earthquake

The 6.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time on December 23rd, with its epicenter located in the southwest of Santiago de Cuba, caused landslides and large rocks to fall in Babujal, in the municipality of Guamá, Santiago de Cuba.

Photos posted on Facebook by the journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso revealed the enormous size of some of the rocks that had fallen onto the road to Granma.

Caridad Aniuska Chong Guerra, the first secretary of the Municipal Committee of the Party in Guamá, has reported that the area remains calm despite the intensity of the seismic activity. The population is following the recommended measures: evacuating higher floors, moving to safe areas, and staying informed, according to journalist José Yaser Centray.

The same source reported that a visit was made to the municipal hospital and several areas of the town of Chivirico to assess the condition of the homes.

By 4:10 a.m., 170 aftershocks of the seismic event had been reported.

There is no risk of a tsunami from earthquakes that occurred along the Oriente fault in southeastern Cuba.

As of 5:50 a.m., 241 aftershocks had been recorded, three of which were perceptible, according to the latest report from CENAIS.

CTC TV Granma reported that as a result of the earthquake, firefighters were required to rescue a woman from the fifth floor of building number 9 in the Antonio Guiteras neighborhood in Bayamo.

The official source did not specify whether the reason for the intervention of the rescue team was for medical reasons or something else.

Although no fatalities or injuries have been reported so far, social media posts have already shown some damage.

In Manzanillo, Granma province, a balcony of the José María Heredia school partially collapsed, as reported on social media by journalist José Ortiz Benet.

The seismic event was mainly felt in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo, although reports of perceptibility were also received from Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, and the other eastern provinces, according to the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS).

The head of the National Seismological Service, Dr. Enrique Arango Arias, reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 35 kilometers southwest of Chivirico, the capital of the Guamá municipality in the province of Santiago de Cuba.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 9 kilometers, which amplified its impact in the region.

Preliminary data from CENAIS indicated that the tremor was located at 19.77 degrees north latitude and 76.61 degrees west longitude.

The official statement referred to "minor damages" in the town of Providencia, located in the Granma province, as a result of the earthquake.

In a subsequent video appearance, Arango Arias clarified that the earthquake this morning "was not an aftershock of those that occurred south of Pilón, in Granma, almost a month and a half ago."

The authorities in Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo continue to assess potential structural damage. At CENAIS, experts are monitoring the recent earthquake, and the situation is being closely observed.

Numerous users on social media described the intensity and duration of the tremor.

This earthquake occurs less than two months after two strong tremors with magnitudes of 6.0 and 6.7 that took place on November 10, south of Pilón, in Granma.

According to the National Seismological Service, more than 8,000 aftershocks have been recorded since then, of which 137 have been noticeable.

CENAIS urges the public to stay informed through official channels.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Earthquake in Eastern Cuba