Powerful 6.8 earthquake hits Cuba as country grapples with power outages, hurricane damage

Two strong earthquakes struck off Cuba's southern coast on Sunday, causing damage to homes and power lines and triggering landslides. The first earthquake, a 5.9-magnitude tremor, struck at around 10:50 a.m. local time, followed by a stronger 6.8-magnitude quake about an hour later, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Both quakes hit near the town of Bartolome Maso, with the first occurring roughly 22 miles from the town and the second 25 miles away. The USGS reported both quakes struck at a depth of over 8.5 miles.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel shared on social media platform X that emergency assessments are underway. "We are beginning to assess the damage in order to begin recovery. The first and most important thing is to save lives," he said.

Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service of Cuba (CENAIS), reported that Pilon in Granma Province sustained "a lot of damage."

The earthquakes come as Cuba faces a grueling recovery from the recent impact of Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm that left significant destruction across the island.