Havana: A massive earthquake of 6.8 magnitude, on Sunday, struck eastern Cuba. The massive earthquake followed after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that left many on the island reeling. According to a report by the United States Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Bartolom Mas in Cuba.
The rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in bigger cities like Santiago de Cuba. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Residents in Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city, were left shaken on Sunday. Yolanda Tabo (76), said people in the city flocked to the streets and were still nervously sitting in their doorways. She said she felt at least two aftershocks following the quake, but that among friends and family, she hadn’t heard of any damages.
You had to see how everything was moving, the walls, everything,” she told The Associated Press.
The earthquake comes during another tough stretch for Cuba.
On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael ripped through western Cuba, with strong winds knocking out power island-wide, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations of hundreds of thousands of people. Days after, much of the island was still struggling without power.
Weeks before in October, the island was also hit by a one-two punch. First, it was hit by island-wide blackouts stretching on for days, a product of the island’s energy crisis. Shortly after, it was slapped by a powerful hurricane that struck the eastern part of the island and killed at least six people.
The blackouts and widespread discontent among many struggling to get by have stoked small protests across the island.
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