Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated, "We are beginning to assess the damage in order to begin recovery. The first and most important thing is to save lives." His emphasis highlights the immediate focus on rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake, showing that despite the physical destruction, the priority remains the safety of the people affected.
Residents in Santiago described the earthquake as one of the most powerful they had ever experienced, with Griselda Fernandez remarking, "We've felt earthquakes in the past, but nothing like this." This illustrates the significant impact this seismic event has had on the local population's collective memory of natural disasters.
Images circulated in state-run media depicted the extent of structural damages, with terracotta roofs and concrete block facades collapsing under the earthquake's pressure. This visual evidence points to the vulnerability of older buildings in the region, raising concerns about future resilience to similar disasters.
The United States Geological Survey noted that the tremor added to ongoing challenges in Cuba, as they specified, "The tremor is the latest in a series of natural disasters that have compounded existing infrastructure problems in Cuba." This underscores the compounding nature of the crises faced by the country, intensifying the need for comprehensive recovery strategies.
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