Cuba was hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake after being hit by storms and power outages
An earthquake with an initial magnitude of 6.8 shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of storms and power outages that left many on the island in shock.
The epicenter is located 40 kilometers south of Bartolome Maso, Cuba, according to the US Geological Survey.
Thunder was heard across the eastern part of Cuba, including in major cities such as Santiago de Cuba, as well as Holguin and Guantanamo. Local media in Jamaica also reported that the island felt an earthquake.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries in Cuba.
Residents of Santiago, Cuba's second largest city, were left in shock on Sunday.
Yolanda Tabio, 76, said that the people of this town flocked to the streets and were still sitting in their doorways in fear. He said he felt tremors at least twice after the quake, but hadn't heard about the damage caused to his friends and family.
“You should have seen how everything moves, the walls, everything,” he told the Associated Press.
Others reported hearing rumblings, adding that the tremors were strong and continued for a long time. On social media, residents of the small town of Pilon reported minor damage, posting photos of collapsing roofs and cracks in building walls, unusual in Cuba where many buildings are old and in need of repair.
The earthquake comes at another difficult time for Cuba.
On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael hit western Cuba, with strong winds knocking out electricity across the island, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
A few days later, much of the island was still struggling without power.
In the meantime17:49Repeated blackouts in Cuba indicate deeper problems
Ruaridh Nicoll, Cuba correspondent with The Guardian, tells host Susan Ormiston how the frequent blackouts on the island point to a complete decline in government services – we have few real partners, we are financially strapped and in danger of becoming a failed state.
In October, the island was again hit with a one-two punch. First, there was an island-wide blackout that lasted for days, the result of the country's power crisis. Soon after, Typhoon Oscar hit the eastern part of the island killing at least six people.
Blackouts and widespread discontent among many struggling to get by have sparked small protests across the island.
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