An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 hit Cuba’s northwest coast on Monday, with tremors being felt across parts of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States. Experts described it as the strongest earthquake to hit the area in almost 150 years. The epicentre of the quake was located around 104 km west-northwest of Mantua in western Cuba. Authorities have not yet reported any casualties or major damage.
According to Seismologists, the incident was atypical because it happened within a tectonic plate rather than along a major plate boundary, which is more prone to earthquakes.
Regions across western Cuba, including Havana and Pinar del Rio, also experienced tremors, with reports of buildings swaying as people rushed outdoors.
U.S Geological Survey (USGS) experts said that no quake of such a magnitude was recorded within 320 km of the area since an earthquake with a maginitude of 6.0 near San Cristonal in 1880.
Residents of Florida reported tremors in cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and north of Orlando, experiencing shaking lasting nearly a minute. Miami-Dade County authorities evacuated several government offices as a precaution, while two elevated commuter rail services temporarily suspended operations pending inspections.
Workers and residents across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum also evacuated buildings after feeling tremors. Local authorities activated emergency response protocols.
Scientists reported that it was the strongest earthquake instrumentally recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.
Magnitude 5.0 earthquake hits Iran
A separate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 also struck southern Iran on early Tuesday, according to Iran’s state media. The tremors hit near Sargaz in Hormozgan province with a depth of about 22 km.
Local authorities initiated monitoring efforts and reported there were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries, or major damage.
Officials are continuing to assess the conditions in the areas affected by the tremors.
