Select Language:
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck off the northwest coast of Cuba on Monday, according to official data. The tremor was felt across regions including parts of Cuba, Mexico, and Florida—areas typically not known for seismic activity. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake at a shallow depth of 16 miles (26 kilometers), with its epicenter located 65 miles (104 kilometers) west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, roughly a two to four-hour drive from Havana.
This kind of quake is unusual for the Caribbean, explained Paul Earle, a USGS seismologist. He noted that because it happened within a tectonic plate, rather than along a plate boundary, the event was more scattered and less common. Interestingly, since 1880, no other earthquake of this strength has occurred within 200 miles (322 kilometers) of Monday’s location, with the last being a 6.0 magnitude tremor near San Cristobal, Cuba.
Though no major damage or injuries have been reported yet, concerns remain high in Cuba, where years of economic hardship have left infrastructure in a state of disrepair. Widespread blackouts across the region have hindered communication efforts. Yusmila Hernandez, 44, from Pinar del Río, described feeling the quake intensely: “It was strong. I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” she said. “Everyone ran outside, scared. It was unlike any earthquake I’ve felt here.”
In the U.S., the quake was also felt in Florida. In Mexico, residents of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, popular tourist destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula, reported feeling the shaking. Cancun’s city workers and visitors evacuated buildings out of caution, although authorities in Yucatán and Quintana Roo haven’t reported significant damage yet. The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed that no tsunami warnings or advisories were issued after the event.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
