Over 5,000 aftershocks recorded from the strong earthquakes in eastern Cuba

Approximately 120 earthquakes were likely perceptible to the population, as they had magnitudes greater than 2.5.

Daños causados en una casa de Granma por los sismos © Granma / Annerys Fonseca
Damage caused to a house in Granma by the earthquakes.Photo © Granma / Annerys Fonseca

Cuban authorities have recorded more than 5,000 aftershocks from the 6.0 and 6.7 magnitude earthquakes that occurred on Sunday, November 10, in the eastern region.

As of this Thursday at 6:00 am, the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) detected a total of 5,053 aftershocks, of which 120 were likely perceptible due to magnitudes exceeding 2.5.

According to Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the national seismic service at the center, it is normal to record a large number of aftershocks for several weeks following two earthquakes measuring 6.0 and 6.7 on the Richter scale.

"The aftershocks are due to the adjustment of the rupture zone; they are always smaller than the main earthquake," he clarified on his Facebook wall.

Facebook Capture / Enrique Diego Arango Arias

This Thursday at 8:17 AM, the network of stations from the National Seismological Service (SSN) recorded a noticeable earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0, the epicenter of which was located 19 km southeast of Pilón, Granma.

According to Arango Arias, the phenomenon was located at coordinates 19.76 degrees north latitude and -77.19 degrees west longitude, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

According to preliminary reports, the earthquake was felt in several locations in Granma, but it did not cause any material or human damages.

Last Tuesday, another earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 was felt in several municipalities of the provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba, shortly after 6:00 am.

The event raised concerns and immediate reactions on social media, where residents of towns such as Media Luna, Manzanillo, Pilón, and Niquero expressed their alarm through messages.

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