Earthquake strikes Cuba after storm and blackout, magnitude 6.8 on Richter scale.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck eastern Cuba on Sunday after weeks of storms and blackouts, leaving many on the island terrified. The epicenter was about 25 miles (40 km) south of Bartolomé Maso, Cuba, according to a report from the United States Geological Survey. The rumble was felt across the eastern part of Cuba, including major cities such as Santiago de Cuba. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Residents of Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city, remained in shock on Sunday. Yolanda Tabio, 76, said people in the city had flooded the streets and were still sitting in their doorways, terrified. She said she felt at least two aftershocks after the quake but had not heard of any casualties among friends and family.
Hurricane Rafael devastates western Cuba.
He said you have to see how everything is going. The earthquake comes during another difficult period for Cuba. On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael devastated western Cuba. After which, strong winds knocked out power across the island, destroyed hundreds of homes, and forced thousands of people to evacuate. Even a few days later, much of the island was still struggling without electricity.
The entire island is affected by the blackout.
A few weeks ago in October, the entire island was hit by a blackout that lasted several days. Shortly after, it was hit by a powerful typhoon that struck the eastern part of the island and killed at least six people. The blackout and widespread discontent among many people struggling to get there have sparked small protests across the island.