Dr. Enrique Arango Arias, head of Cuba's National Seismological Service, confirmed that a 3.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded on Monday morning in the eastern region of the country. Through social media, Arango provided details indicating that the quake occurred near Santiago de Cuba Bay and was felt throughout the city.
The tremor was reported to have taken place at 11:44 a.m. on Monday. According to the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located 6 kilometers south of Santiago de Cuba. This marked the tenth seismic event of the year, occurring at a depth of 11 kilometers, with coordinates at latitude 19.954 and longitude -75.841.
Aris Arias Batalla, in charge of Operations and Relief for the Red Cross in Santiago de Cuba, shared on Facebook that the earthquake was noticeable in the city. He urged residents to remain calm and wait for official updates from CENAIS.
Soon after the seismic stations recorded the 3.9 magnitude tremor, social media was abuzz with reactions. Some users reported feeling the quake strongly, while others did not feel it at all.
In its daily seismological report, CENAIS noted that between 6:00 a.m. on May 25 and 5:59 a.m. on May 26, 2025, six earthquakes were recorded in the national territory and surrounding areas. Five of these events occurred in the Pilón–Chivirico area, with magnitudes ranging from 0.8 to 2.2. The sixth earthquake was located in the Santiago–Baconao region and had a magnitude of 2.2.
A previous earthquake, measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, was felt on May 4 in Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo. This earthquake's epicenter was “31 km southwest of Caimanera, in the municipality of Niceto Pérez in Guantánamo province,” according to official reports. It was the ninth noticeable earthquake of the year. Arango stated that the recent seismic activity in eastern Cuba remains within normal parameters.
Just two days earlier, the National Seismological Service's network of stations recorded another earthquake at 11:51 a.m. (local time), with a magnitude of 3.7. This event was located at coordinates 19.78° north latitude and -75.37° west longitude, at a depth of 23 kilometers and 29 km southwest of Caimanera, in the municipality of Niceto Pérez, Guantánamo province.
Understanding Earthquake Activity in Santiago de Cuba
What was the magnitude of the recent earthquake in Santiago de Cuba?
The recent earthquake in Santiago de Cuba had a magnitude of 3.9 according to Dr. Enrique Arango Arias, although the National Center for Seismological Research reported it as 3.4 on the Richter scale.
Where was the epicenter of the earthquake located?
The epicenter of the earthquake was located 6 kilometers south of Santiago de Cuba.
How did residents of Santiago de Cuba react to the earthquake?
Some residents reported feeling the earthquake strongly, while others did not notice it. Social media was filled with various reactions soon after the tremor.