On Sunday, a strong earthquake occurred in the eastern part of Cuba, which was devastated by a strong storm in recent weeks. In the west of the island, which was hit by another tropical storm a few days ago, cleanup and restoration of electricity continues. Anti-government demonstrations were held in two provinces by people desperate for electricity, water and food.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 occurred on Sunday in the province of Granma on the southeastern coast of Cuba. The center of the earthquake was about 40 kilometers south of the city of Bartolom Maso.
Buildings shook, including in Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in the Caribbean country. As reported by Reuters, the residents of the interviewed neighborhood say that they have never seen such a strong earthquake.
There is no information about major damages or losses.
Storms and silence
The earthquake is the latest natural disaster to hit Cuba in recent weeks.
Much of the eastern part of the island was destroyed by Hurricane Oscar in the second half of October, shortly before the arrival of this element, Cuba experienced a massive paralysis of the power system, resulting in a power outage throughout the island. . The effects of the storm have worsened the situation and some residents are still without power.
Another typhoon, Rafael, hit the western part of the island last week, causing widespread damage and power outages that have continued since Friday, affecting 10 million people. The biggest paralysis in the electricity transmission system occurs in the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeke, in the west of the country, where peaceful anti-government demonstrations have been held due to lack of electricity, water and food. There is also a lack of electricity in the center of Havana, the capital of the country.
Damage after hurricane RafaelPAP/EPA/Felipe Borrego
– We are in a critical situation, – says a resident of Havana, Radio Marti, adding that “you can't blame only Hurricane Rafael, there has always been a lack of energy.”
Cuba's social and economic situation is currently the worst since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in the 1950s. Not only electricity, but also necessary goods, including food, medicine and fuel, are in short supply.
Damage after hurricane RafaelPAP/EPA/Juan Palop
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/Felipe Borrego
