**Powerful Earthquake Jolts Eastern Cuba, Shakes Miami**

Eastern Cuba experienced a significant natural disaster on Sunday as a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck, compounding the distress already caused by recent hurricanes and widespread blackouts. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was approximately 25 miles south of Bartolome Maso in Cuba.

Tremors were reported throughout the eastern part of the island, affecting major cities such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo. One woman residing in Santiago remarked that she had previously endured quakes up to a magnitude of 5 but had never felt anything as severe as this recent event.

Dara Goldberg from the U.S. Geological Survey noted that although the region has witnessed around two dozen earthquakes measuring 5.5 or higher over the past few decades, such tremors are not frequent enough for locals to consider them a regular occurrence.

Social media platforms were flooded with images shared by Cuban residents, depicting damaged roofs and cracked walls. Meanwhile, the City of Miami reported that its fire department responded to multiple calls from concerned residents in areas including Brickell and downtown Miami. However, city officials reassured the public that there was no immediate cause for alarm.

“This earthquake was definitely felt in Miami,” Goldberg confirmed, noting about a dozen reports of shaking in the city. The quake followed closely on the heels of Hurricane Rafael, which had wreaked havoc earlier in the week. Additionally, island-wide blackouts plagued Cuba in October after Hurricane Oscar caused severe flooding, resulting in the deaths of at least six people along the east coast.

As residents in Cuba continue to assess the damage, there are currently no reports of casualties resulting from the earthquake.