The epicenter was located 49 km (30 miles) south-southwest of Maisí, in Guantánamo Province, at 00:28 local time (04:28 GMT). A aftershock of magnitude 4.7 followed at 01:44 local time (05:44 GMT), approximately 60 km from the same area, per USGS data. Cuba’s National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) reported a slightly higher magnitude of 6.0, with the epicenter placed about 37 km southeast of Imías (Guantánamo Province) at a depth of around 20 km. Such minor discrepancies between agencies are common due to differences in calculation methods and seismic networks. No casualties or significant structural damage have been reported in the initial hours after the event. The USGS assessed the risk of human and material losses as green (“low probability”). Occurring offshore in the Caribbean Sea, the quake had limited direct impact on populated areas. No tsunami warning was issued. Amid Worsening Energy Crisis The earthquake occurred against the backdrop of one of Cuba’s most severe ongoing power crises. In the hours leading up to the tremor, a nationwide blackout (apagón nacional) left nearly the entire island—home to over 9 million people—without electricity. Internet access, communications, and essential services were widely disrupted. The total darkness combined with the shaking heightened anxiety among residents in eastern Cuba, already strained by months of chronic and prolonged power outages. A Seismically Active Region Eastern Cuba lies near the Oriente Fault, a major subduction zone between the Caribbean and North American plates, making it the most earthquake-prone part of the island. Recent months have seen several notable events:

Magnitude 6.8 in November 2024 Magnitude 5.9 in December 2024 Magnitude 5.0 in early March 2026

The March 17 event fits into this ongoing offshore seismic sequence, with several smaller aftershocks (magnitudes 3.0 to 4.1) recorded in the following hours. Cuban authorities and international monitoring agencies continue to watch the area closely. Residents in the eastern provinces are advised to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks, although the risk of a significantly larger event appears limited at this time.