6.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Coast of   Eastern Cuba, Causing Widespread Damage

In breaking news, a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Cuba on Sunday, causing widespread material damage and alarming residents already grappling with recent natural disasters. The earthquake, centered approximately 39 km (24 miles) south of Bartolomé Masó, followed a 5.9 magnitude tremor that rattled the same area just an hour earlier, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

"There have been landslides, damage to homes and power lines," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed in an official statement. "Authorities are now assessing the full scope of the damage and preparing to begin recovery efforts."

Images from the heavily affected Granma Province, published by the state-run media outlet Cubadebate, reveal significant structural damage, with cracked buildings and debris littering the streets. In the municipality of Pilón, reports indicate “severe damage,” noted Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service of Cuba.

Cuban residents across eastern provinces like Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantánamo reported feeling the quake’s intensity, with many describing it as the most powerful tremor they’ve ever experienced. "Strong as ever. In other occasions, we’ve felt the earthquake but not as strong as now,” said Griselda Fernandez, a resident of the affected area.

This earthquake compounds the hardship faced by Cuban citizens in recent weeks. Last month, Hurricane Oscar wreaked havoc on eastern Cuba, and just days ago, Hurricane Rafael caused island-wide blackouts and substantial damage, particularly in the western region. President Díaz-Canel emphasized that emergency crews are doing all they can to address the accumulating crises across the island.

While the US National Tsunami Warning Center reported no major tsunami threat from the quake, it did warn of a "very small possibility of tsunami waves along coasts closest to the epicenter."

The tremor's impact was felt as far as southern Florida, with social media footage from Miami showing swaying lights in high-rise buildings, a testament to the earthquake's far-reaching shockwaves.