The eastern region of Santiago-Baconao remains under close watch following a 4.1 magnitude earthquake on September 7th. Although the energy released was not substantial, seismic activity has been continuous.
Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service of Cuba at the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), announced on Facebook this Sunday that approximately 610 quakes have been recorded, all with magnitudes below 3.5.
Arango emphasized that this ongoing activity necessitates vigilant monitoring due to its persistent nature. In a recent interview with Cuban television, he revealed that the September 7th earthquake, felt in various parts of Santiago de Cuba and nearby areas, resulted in a series of aftershocks. He described the energy release as somewhat unusual, noting that aftershocks are still being detected.
"This has caught the attention of many residents," said Arango, although he reassured that "this is a normal behavior following a main event of 4.1 magnitude." He pointed out that the aftershocks have not exceeded 2.9 in magnitude, making them imperceptible to the population.
Remaining Vigilant and Prepared
Arango stressed the importance of not panicking, assuring that "if a significant anomaly were to be detected which might warrant a public alert, the population would be informed immediately. At this moment, there is no need to create unnecessary alarm."
Nevertheless, he highlighted that Santiago de Cuba is situated in a seismic zone, which requires constant vigilance and preparedness for potential measures. "It's crucial to stay alert, work on reducing vulnerability, and ensure that both the population and institutions are prepared, following civil defense guidelines," he emphasized.
Currently, the focus is on reviewing measures and staying attentive to any unusual activity.
Understanding Earthquake Magnitudes
In a recent statement, Arango clarified that the noticeable earthquake on September 7th does not exempt the population from the risk of a major quake. He explained that "the magnitude of an earthquake is measured by the energy it releases, using logarithmic scales."
He detailed, "A 3.0 magnitude quake is 32 times smaller than a 4.0, 1,000 times smaller than a 5.0, 31,000 times smaller than a 6.0, and so on." To illustrate this, Arango shared a graph showing how the 7.7 magnitude earthquake on January 28, 2020, dwarfs all quakes recorded between 2010 and 2024 in the Oriente fault, concluding, "Its energy is incomparably greater than the rest."
So far in 2024, Cuba has experienced 11 perceptible earthquakes, including the one on September 7th. In 2023, a total of 14 perceptible quakes were recorded in Cuba, most of which were located in the Oriente fault, the country's main seismic activity zone and a tectonic plate boundary in the southern part of the eastern region.