Rare 6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Off Cuba Shakes Havana, Tremors Reach Florida

A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Cuba's northwestern coast on Monday, shaking buildings in Havana and sending tremors across Florida and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula in one of the most significant seismic events ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at a depth of about 26 kilometres, with its epicentre located roughly 104 kilometres west-northwest of Mantua in Cuba's Pinar del Río province. The agency initially reported a stronger magnitude before revising it to 6.1. Scientists described the event as the largest earthquake recorded in the Gulf of Mexico in the modern instrumental era and the strongest within about 322 kilometres of the area since 1880.

The tremor was felt across western Cuba, including Havana and Pinar del Río, where residents rushed outdoors as buildings swayed. Despite widespread alarm, authorities reported no deaths, injuries or major structural damage . Cuban officials continued inspections, particularly of older buildings and vulnerable infrastructure already strained by years of economic hardship and periodic power outages.

The earthquake's effects extended far beyond Cuba. Residents reported shaking in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville and areas north of Orlando. Miami-Dade County evacuated several government buildings, including its main office tower, while commuter rail services were temporarily suspended for inspections. Some attractions at Walt Disney World were briefly halted as a precaution before reopening.

Tremors were also felt in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum in Mexico, prompting local authorities to activate emergency protocols. However, no significant damage was reported there either.

Seismologists noted that the earthquake was unusual because it occurred within a tectonic plate rather than along a major plate boundary, where powerful earthquakes are more common. The National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there was no tsunami threat , although experts warned that western Cuba could experience aftershocks in the coming days.