On November 10, 2024, eastern Cuba was rocked by two significant earthquakes, the first measuring 5.9 and the second, just about an hour later, hitting 6.8 on the Richter scale. This seismic activity occurred just as the nation was still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Rafael, which had battered the island mere days prior. The quakes struck close to Bartolomé Masó, approximately 39 kilometers (around 24 miles) from the municipality located within Granma Province, and impacted the broader region, prominent areas like Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín also reported feeling the tremors.
The aftermath of the initial quake led to widespread panic, prompting residents to flee their homes and gather outdoors, unsure of what might follow. Yolanda Tabio, aged 76, who lives in Santiago, described the chaos, saying folks rushed to the streets or nervously perched themselves on doorsteps. The tremors' intensity was unlike anything she had felt before. Reports noted landslides, damage to homes, and downed power lines across various neighborhoods.
Shortly after the earthquakes, Cuba's President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, communicated via social media about the chaos his country faced. He confirmed the existence of widespread landslides, structural damage, and jingled the call for urgent recovery efforts. Images shared from the affected areas showed stark damage inflicted by the earthquakes – cracked walls of homes and downed utility poles littered the streets, particularly alarming was the damage documented around Pilón, where residents faced acute destruction.
Despite the destruction, there were no immediate reports of injuries, though concerns lingered as officials observed the impacts. No tsunami threats were issued following the earthquake; the U.S. Geological Survey assured residents of this safety aspect. The earthquakes followed closely behind Hurricane Rafael, which had stormed through western Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, knocking out power and wreaking havoc across the island, creating additional hurdles for recovery efforts already strained by the preexisting energy crisis.
Disturbingly, this earthquake sequence came on the heels of earlier hurricanes — Hurricane Oscar, just weeks prior, had already claimed six lives, underscoring the precarious standing of disaster management and infrastructure across the island. The recent earthquakes had rattled not only buildings but also the spirits of Cubans, grappling with emotional scars from the earlier disasters, now facing even greater uncertainties.
Further complicate matters, officials warned residents of potential more aftershocks, with two minor ones measuring 4.2 and 4.6 occurring later the same day. This fear of continuing seismic activity coupled with the recent hurricanes exacerbates the frantic atmosphere among residents, many of whom expressed overwhelming fatigue faced with the taunting threats of nature.
The dialogue surrounding migration once again stirred as Cubans pondered leaving the shores of their homeland to seek reassurance and shelter abroad, especially with continuing infrastructure struggles and persistent blackouts. This thought was echoed on social media platforms where locals shared their frustrations and worries about loved ones, many of whom were still without reliable communication due to damaged infrastructure.
Images shared online illustrated the aftermath, with deep cracks running through homes and debris-strewn streets emphasizing the dire need for aid and recovery. The insistent challenges of disaster recovery overshadowed by storm seasons and structural challenges contributed to concerns about future humanitarian needs.
Cuba’s local communities are no strangers to such turmoil. The island, overburdened by its previous natural disasters, now must assess the damages and organize recovery efforts swiftly, calling on both governmental support and grassroots community assistance to heal from the wounds left by both hurricanes and earthquakes. The looming troubles of recovery, pandemic effects on local economies, and adapting to climate changes paint a picture of urgent need across the island.
Residents were vocal about their feelings, with some expressing despair over watching their homeland face repeated calamities, as shared by Andres Rivera on social media, voicing his sorrow for the state of the country. Amid this turmoil, Cubans’ resilience shines through as they bond together to navigate their challenges, lean on each other’s support, and attempt to forge paths to recovery.
This developing narrative evidently captures more than just the extent of physical damage; it also echoes the indomitable spirit of communities pressing on through adversity, united by the common shores of their collective home and history. While immediate recovery efforts will occupy leaders and local citizens alike for the foreseeable future, what’s clear is the need for solidarity, preparedness, and proactive measures to secure life on the island as it braves yet another natural disaster.
