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Granma.cu

CUBAN scientists are stepping up vigilance of current seismic activity after the registering of a tremor on Tuesday at 7:20 p.m., perceptible in almost all of national territory.

Experts from National Center of Seismological Research, located in Santiago de Cuba, explained that some 40 replicas were registered up until midday yesterday after the principal event, whose epicenter was located at sea close to the Cayman Islands and more than 350 kilometers from Cienfuegos.

The point of origin of the earth movement was at 18.99 degrees latitude north and 81.56 longitude west at a depth of 21.3 kilometers.

Given the value of its magnitude or released energy, calculated at 6.6 on the Richter scale, the event was perceptible in areas of Pinar del Río, City of Havana, the Isle of Youth, Cayo Largo del Sur, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Avila and Santiago de Cuba.

According to historical notes, the earthquake took place in an area of previous tremors with an equal effect, such as those reported on July 7, 1852 and May 6, 1905, according to seismic expert Tomás Chuy.

The area of active tectonic structures where the tremor occurred is common in this geographical environment bordering southeastern Cuba and north of the Dominican Republic.

This is the eighth perceptible quake this year in the country, where its maximum intensity was estimated at between 4-5 degrees on the MSK scale of 12.

For the Cayman Islands, it was one of the strongest earthquakes in recent years, although there was also one of large intensity on September 22, 2003.

With a highly qualified personnel and modern technology, Cuba has a seismic service whose principal mission is to prevent and mitigate the effects that this kind of activity in the earth’s crust can occasion.