A earthquake of 4.9 degrees on the Richter scale, which occurred this Tuesday west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was perceptible in the municipalities of Caimanera and Santiago de Cuba, according to the network of stations of the National Seismological Service of Cuba (CENAIS).
The earthquake was recorded at 5:11 am, at 18.702 degrees north latitude and 74.235 degrees west longitude, at a depth of 10 km and with a magnitude of 4.9 degrees. Its center was detected 165 km from the town of Caimanera.
Perceptibility reports were received both from Santiago de Cuba, head of the province of the same name, and from Caimanera, in Guantanamo.
No material or human damage is reported.
This is the seventh perceptible earthquake in Cuban territory so far in 2023.
Three dead in Haiti
The United States Geological Survey reported that the quake had a depth of only 10 kilometers, with an epicenter near the area of Les Abricots, in the department of Grand’Anse.
A member of the country’s disaster agency said to Associated Press (AP) that so far three deaths had been confirmed after the collapse of a house.
In 2010, a magnitude 7 earthquake killed at least 200,000 Haitians, and caused extensive devastation to buildings.
Tuesday’s earthquake comes as Haiti struggles to recover from heavy flooding over the weekend that killed at least 51 people, injured 140 and inundated nearly 31,600 homes. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has requested international assistance, according to PA.
