The shallow tremor rattled residents in parts of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo provinces but produced no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The quake hit this morning at 12:28 a.m. local time (0428 GMT). The United States Geological Survey placed the epicenter 49 kilometers south-southwest of MaisÃ, Cuba’s easternmost municipality, at a shallow depth of 11.6 kilometers.
Shallow earthquakes of this type often produce stronger shaking near the surface than deeper events of similar magnitude. Cuba’s national seismological service confirmed the quake was perceptible in Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo provinces. Officials located the epicenter roughly 95 kilometers from Guantánamo city.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre first detected the event and later recorded several aftershocks, the strongest reaching 4.7 magnitude. The USGS issued a green alert for both potential fatalities and economic losses, signaling a low likelihood of significant impact. As of now, Cuban authorities and international monitors reported no casualties or structural damage.
This marks the second notable seismic event off Cuba’s eastern coast in less than two weeks. On the 6th, the USGS recorded a 5.0-magnitude quake in the same general area south of MaisÃ. Eastern Cuba lies near the boundary between the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, a zone known for moderate seismic activity. The Oriente fault system in this region generates occasional quakes that residents can feel across eastern provinces.
Some local residents described a rolling motion that lasted several seconds. Others reported minor objects shifting inside homes. Civil defense teams conducted initial checks in affected towns and found no problems. Seismologists continue monitoring the area for further aftershocks. Cuban authorities have asked the public to stay alert and follow official updates through state channels.
International agencies, including the USGS and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, keep close watch on activity along this plate boundary. The Caribbean remains one of the more seismically active regions globally, though destructive events along Cuba’s coast stay relatively infrequent.
