Is Cuba prepared? The seismic alert that put the island in suspense

The seismic alert Cuba was activated on February 8 after an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 off the coast of Honduras.

The earthquake was felt in several provinces of the center and west of the island, generating uncertainty in the population and leading to the authorities to reinforce seismic surveillance.

The National Seismological Research Center (Cenais) monitored the situation in real time, while in other Caribbean countries, such as Dominican Republic and Jamaica, preventive alerts of Tsunami were issued.

Although finally the risk was discarded, this event highlights the vulnerability of the Caribbean to earthquakes of great magnitude and the importance of being prepared.

Recent seismic activity in the Caribbean

Telluric movements in the region have been frequent in recent months. The Caribbean Fire belt area, which covers areas such as Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba, has registered several seismic events.

According to experts, the factors that activated the seismic alert Cuba include:

• Epicenter in the sea: an earthquake in the ocean is more likely to generate a tsunami.
• Earthquake depth: superficial earthquakes increase the risk of displacement of the seabed.
• Geological fault type: Vertical movement failures can generate tsunamis.
• High magnitude: Seismic events above 7.0 require immediate monitoring.

The earthquake in Honduras, with a depth of 33 km, fulfilled several of these criteria, which generated the activation of emergency protocols in several Caribbean countries, including Cuba.

Is Cuba prepared for a great earthquake?

Cuba is not the most seismically active country in the region, but has registered important earthquakes in the past, especially in the eastern zone.

Given these events, Cenais and the National Seismological Service of Cuba have developed monitoring tools, such as the application «SISMOCUBA«, Which allows you to receive real time alerts about the seismic activity.

However, some experts consider that the island must still improve in terms of preventive education and evacuation drills.

In other countries such as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, there are more advanced alert systems, with coastal sirens and educational programs for the population.

Recommendations before a seismic alert in Cuba

To reduce the impact of a possible earthquake or tsunami, the authorities recommend:

• Stay informed through official sources such as Cenais.
• Identify safe areas at home and at work.
• Have a family emergency plan with evacuation routes and an essential supply kit.
• Avoid the spread of rumors and follow the indications of the authorities.

Conclusion

The recent earthquake in the Caribbean was a reminder that the region remains vulnerable to natural phenomena of great magnitude.

The activation of the seismic alert Cuba reinforces the importance of maintaining constant monitoring and preparing the population against possible emergencies.

This type of event reminds us of how states that we are in the Caribbean to natural phenomena. Although Cuba has an efficient seismic monitoring system, more preventive education is needed for the population to know how to react.