A powerful earthquake struck off Cuba’s northwest coast on Monday, sending tremors across parts of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States in what experts described as the strongest quake to hit the area in roughly 150 years.
Despite widespread shaking and precautionary evacuations, authorities reported no casualties or major damage.
Unusual tectonic event
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured magnitude 6.1 and occurred at a shallow depth of about 26 kilometres. Its epicentre was located roughly 104 kilometres west-northwest of Mantua in western Cuba, several hours from Havana.
Seismologists said the event was highly unusual because it occurred within a tectonic plate rather than along a major plate boundary. USGS experts noted that no earthquake of comparable strength had struck within about 320 kilometres of the area since an estimated magnitude 6.0 quake near San Cristobal in 1880.
Buildings swayed, people rushed out
The tremor was felt across western Cuba, including Havana and Pinar del Rio, where residents described scenes of alarm as buildings swayed and people rushed outdoors. Many residents said they had never experienced such intense shaking before.
Concerns were particularly high in Cuba, where years of economic hardship have left many buildings vulnerable and infrastructure strained. Ongoing power outages in several areas also complicated communication efforts immediately after the quake.
Tremors felt in Florida and Mexico
The earthquake’s effects extended far beyond Cuba. Tremors were reported in Florida, where residents in cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and even areas north of Orlando felt buildings and furniture vibrate. Several government offices in Miami-Dade County were evacuated as a precaution.
Residents in Florida described feeling unexpected shaking lasting close to a minute – an unusual experience in a state rarely affected by earthquakes.
The quake was also felt across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including the popular tourist destinations of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Workers and residents evacuated buildings after feeling the tremors.
No tsunami warning
Scientists said the earthquake was among the most significant ever instrumentally recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. A USGS geophysicist noted that only a handful of earthquakes measuring magnitude 5.0 or higher are known to have occurred in the region since modern seismic monitoring began.
No tsunami warning was issued following the quake. Experts said while western Cuba could experience noticeable aftershocks, any subsequent tremors would likely be much weaker and unlikely to significantly affect Florida or other distant locations.
5.0 earthquake shakes southern Iran
Separately, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck southern Iran early on Tuesday, according to Iranian state media. The tremor hit near Sargaz in Hormozgan province at a depth of about 22 kilometres.
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or major damage. Iran frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location along several active fault systems and remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.
