Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac has taken a biting approach towards ETECSA's recent admission of responsibility for the erroneous earthquake alert that caused widespread panic across at least nine provinces on August 18th.
Toirac, known for his sharp wit, shared his reaction on Facebook, responding to the state telecommunications company's statement with humor: "Buaaaajajajaja ¡Queliiindaaaa!!... and that's it?. Seriously?" His post clearly conveyed his belief that the company's response was entirely inadequate.
The Aftermath of a False Alarm
In the comments under his post, Toirac expanded on his views, expressing "mixed feelings" about the situation. "I want to believe (I'm that optimistic) that some young employees were fooling around and messed up big time. It's painful to see them face severe consequences," he wrote, alluding to the penalties ETECSA claimed to have imposed on those responsible.
However, Toirac emphasized that the real impact extends beyond immediate consequences: "It's not just about the direct effects (I can't confirm any health damages or fatalities), but the erosion of trust in a system meant to save lives, now in the hands of unaccountable individuals."
Inadequate Apologies and Unanswered Questions
Toirac also issued a stern warning to ETECSA: "It's not enough to just 'apologize' and move on. No way." The company's statement, titled "Information to the Public on Seismic Alert Message," acknowledged that the alerts on August 18th "were issued due to a technical-human error by our specialists conducting network tests."
While the company mentioned taking steps to prevent a recurrence and offered public apologies, it failed to clarify how an internal test turned into a national alert affecting millions of devices, nor did it detail the exact penalties imposed.
The admission came three days after the incident, which led to mass evacuations and panic in Mayabeque, Granma, Holguín, Matanzas, Havana, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, and Santiago de Cuba.
Ongoing Criticism of ETECSA's Practices
Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service at the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), had immediately pointed out that the alert "was not based on any officially issued alert note" and demanded accountability. Before ETECSA's admission, Arango had warned of the real danger: "When the alarm is real, people won't believe it."
Toirac's critique is part of a longstanding criticism of ETECSA. Following the May 2025 price hikes, he repeatedly questioned the company's decision to accumulate millions without reinvesting in infrastructure. By July 2025, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero admitted that the company amassed over 24.8 million dollars in just 46 days after the rate increase, approximately 540,000 dollars daily.
On August 19th, in his initial response to the false alert, Toirac accused ETECSA of having "a significant gap that allowed the simultaneous, massive dispatch" of the notification and questioned the destination of its earnings: "I don't know where you're putting the money you've been collecting since the rate hike."
Now, in light of the company's apologies, his stance remains unchanged: apologies fall short when the reliability of a life-saving alert system is at stake.
Understanding the ETECSA Earthquake Alert Incident
What caused the false earthquake alert in Cuba?
The false earthquake alert on August 18th was caused by a technical-human error during a test conducted by ETECSA specialists on the telecommunications network.
How did Ulises Toirac respond to ETECSA's apology?
Ulises Toirac responded with sarcasm and criticism, expressing that ETECSA's apology was insufficient and questioning the company's accountability measures.
What actions has ETECSA taken following the incident?
ETCSA has stated that it has disciplined those responsible for the error and is implementing measures to prevent future occurrences, though details remain unclear.