Advertisement

5.6 magnitude quake strikes Cuba

Share

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo, Cuba, Saturday, but officials said there was no damage reported.

The quake was centered 27 miles southwest of Guantanamo and had a depth of 14 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

A magnitude-5 quake can cause considerable damage, but Chief Petty Officer Bill Mesta, a spokesman at the base, said there was none reported.

There was no tsunami warning issued for the region.

The U.S. base in southeastern Cuba was used to transport supplies and personnel to the aid effort after the devastating 7.0-magnitude Jan. 12 quake in Haiti, about 200 miles away.

A prison on the base, set up for terrorism suspects after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, still houses 188 detainees. President Barack Obama pledged in January 2009 to close the controversial prison within a year, but his efforts to shutter the facility have been hapmered by legal and political hurdles.

Advertisement