More than 160 aftershocks recorded after 6.0 earthquake in eastern Cuba

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake on the Richter scale shook eastern Cuba in the early hours of this Tuesday, with its epicenter located about 37 kilometers southeast of the municipality of Imías, in Guantánamo, and an approximate depth of 20 kilometers.

According to information from the National Seismological Service, the tremor was felt in several eastern provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Granma, causing alarm among the population, who left their homes out of fear of further quakes.

By 9:00 AM, more than 160 aftershocks had been recorded, a behavior considered normal following an event of this magnitude, as explained on Facebook by Dr. Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service at the National Center for Seismological Research.

The specialist clarified that the earthquake originated in the Oriente fault zone, which is the boundary between the North American plate—of which Cuba is a part—and the Gonave microplate.

He also pointed out that the seismic events that occurred on March 6 (5.3) and February 8 (5.6) in that same area acted as precursors to the main tremor.

Arango Arias recalled that the region of Imías has historically experienced perceptible seismic swarms throughout the southern coastline of Guantánamo.

As a background, it was mentioned that in 2014, there were more than 1,500 recorded earthquakes, with a maximum magnitude of 4.0.

The area is part of the so-called Deformed Belt of Santiago de Cuba, a tectonically active zone where the oblique movement of the plates generates transpressive processes that elevate the southern coast and create marine terraces between Santiago de Cuba and Maisí.

So far, authorities have not reported any loss of life or material damage.

However, the event takes place amid prolonged blackouts in the country, which increased uncertainty among the population during the early hours.