A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Cuba's western coast on Monday, triggering tremors that were felt across parts of the Caribbean, southern Florida in the United States and sections of Mexico.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred about 100 kilometre (62 miles) from Mantua, a town in western Cuba located a few hours from Havana. The earthquake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 26 kilometre (16 miles).
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While authorities did not immediately report any major damage or casualties, the tremors prompted residents to rush outdoors as buildings shook for several seconds.
Shaking from the recent M6.1 earthquake offshore of Cuba was felt in Florida, where earthquakes are not commonly felt. Did you feel it? (If you're in the area and did not feel it, that's data too!)https://t.co/qpvppLHKj2 pic.twitter.com/poFijbHQ7d
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) June 8, 2026
Residents rush into the streets
People across western Cuba reported feeling the ground move for nearly 20 seconds, causing alarm among those who had never experienced an earthquake before.
"At first I just felt dizzy -- it didn't occur to me it was an earthquake, I'd never experienced that before," Carmel Delgado, a 47-year-old economist, told AFP.
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"But once we realized what it could be, we got out quickly."
Cuban authorities said the quake was felt throughout the western part of the country, underscoring the wide reach of the tremors.
RARE GULF EARTHQUAKE: The magnitude 6.1 today near Cuba is officially the 2nd strongest on record in the Gulf. Strongest quake was a 6.4 in the Southwestern Gulf near Mexico in 1959. Considering the shaking in Florida today, the largest known quake ever in the state was a 4.4 in pic.twitter.com/buLP7zju0W
— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) June 8, 2026
Shaking felt in Florida
The effects of the earthquake extended beyond Cuba. Residents in Florida reported feeling shaking shortly after the quake occurred.
“We've received several recent reports of shaking across Southwestern Florida within the past 30 minutes. An earthquake has occurred just west of Cuba in the southern Gulf,” National Weather Service Miami-South Florida was quoted as saying by HT.
Rare seismic event in the region
Seismologists described the earthquake as unusual for this part of the Caribbean. Paul Earle, a seismologist with the USGS, said the quake occurred within a tectonic plate, where earthquakes tend to be less frequent and more scattered.
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According to Earle, Monday's earthquake was the strongest recorded within a 322-kilometre (200-mile) radius since 1880.
No tsunami warning or watch was issued following the earthquake. However, the tremors raised concerns in Cuba, where many aging buildings have been weakened by years of economic hardship and lack of maintenance.
FAQs:
Did the Cuba earthquake cause any major damage or casualties?
Authorities did not report any major damage or casualties immediately after the quake.
Why was this earthquake unusual for the region?
Experts said the quake occurred within a tectonic plate, where earthquakes are generally less frequent and more scattered.
