LIMA, Peru – The National Center for Seismological Research in Cuba (CENAIS) reported the occurrence this Sunday morning of a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in the eastern part of the Island.
The earthquake was reported as noticeable at 7:00 am local time, located at coordinates 20.16 degrees north latitude and 74.44 degrees west longitude, at a depth of 7.1 km and located 24.0 km southeast of Imías.
So far, reports of perceptibility have been received in several locations in the provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba and Granma. This is the second perceptible earthquake for Cuba so far in 2026.
For their part, Cuban authorities have not reported any significant material damage or injuries as a result of the earthquake.
«The earthquake was very strong, I had never heard the walls of my house shake and feel an earthquake so strong that it almost didn’t let you move, thank God it was for a few seconds. If there were no significant damages,” Internet user Isael Bozan Acosta commented in an official publication.
Is a high intensity earthquake possible in eastern Cuba?
In November 2024, after the earthquakes that shook the province of GranmaGeology engineer and seismologist Eberto Hernández Suró, with more than 30 years of experience, told the newspaper The Demajagua that “in Cuba it is estimated that a significant earthquake usually occurs every 80 to 90 years.”
“They have given us two more years of grace, given that 92 years have passed since the last major event in Cabo Cruz, therefore the concern is increasing that the energy accumulated in the subsoil is reaching a critical point,” said the expert.
On the other hand, he stressed that the tremors in the region “are due to natural geological factors that have been occurring for millennia and are not related to human activities.” Furthermore, he indicated that these telluric movements originate at considerable depths, around 10 kilometers, and are the result of internal tectonic processes of the Earth.
The seismologist pointed out that the Chivirico and Pilón area is known for its high seismic activity due to the instability caused by rock breaking. “The scientific community agrees that the movements of the tectonic plates are the main cause of these tremors,” he stated.
When comparing the earthquakes of November 2024 with others that occurred in the territory, the expert classified them as “moderate magnitude.” He also recalled past events such as the 7.1 magnitude earthquake of January 28, 2021 near the Cayman Islands and the 5.8 magnitude earthquake known as the “Providencia earthquake”, which mainly affected the municipality of Bartolomé Masó. “The Bartlett-Cayman fault zone can generate earthquakes of even greater magnitude,” he warned.
Regarding the apparent increase in seismic activity in recent years, Hernández Suró clarified: “The increase in records does not necessarily indicate more earthquakes, but rather that we now have more advanced technology that allows us to detect smaller magnitude events.”
The specialist also specified that Cuba currently has 24 broadband seismological stations with “top-level technology,” which facilitates more precise monitoring.
