A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba on Monday afternoon, triggering widespread reports of shaking throughout Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the earthquake occurred just after 2 p.m., approximately 65 miles west of Mantua, Cuba, at a depth of roughly 10 miles below the surface. The shallow depth of the quake allowed the tremors to travel across the water and be felt across much of the state, from the Tampa Bay area down to Miami-Dade County, creating an unusual seismic experience for residents unaccustomed to earthquake activity.
Residents across South Florida quickly shared their experiences on social media, describing the shaking they felt in various locations. Carol Carsten in Port Saint Lucie reported feeling "just the slightest of shaking" while lying on a chaise lounge in her lanai. A viewer in Fort Pierce on the fifth floor noted they could "actually feel the floor swaying." Lynn Wollman in Boynton Beach said "our whole building was swaying for a good 5-7 seconds," while Erica Smith Chepurko in North Palm Beach described how "my TV and computer monitor shook" on the fourth floor of her office building. Near Tampa, residents reported feeling their patio furniture shake and expressed surprise at the unusual phenomenon.
In response to the earthquake, authorities took precautionary measures as the seismic activity prompted building evacuations. The Miami-Dade Government Center and Miami Beach City Hall were evacuated out of an abundance of caution. The National Weather Service in Miami confirmed receiving reports of shaking from across southwestern Florida. Officials quickly worked to reassure the public about tsunami concerns, with the National Tsunami Warning Center announcing there was "no tsunami danger for the U.S. east coast, the Gulf of America states, or the eastern coast of Canada."
Authorities continue to monitor the situation following the quake. No aftershocks have been reported since the initial earthquake, and no damage has been documented in Florida. While the state has no documented active fault lines, seismic activity originating in Cuba and the Caribbean region can occasionally be felt across South Florida due to its proximity to active fault zones. This earthquake, though significant and unusual for the area, caused no injuries or significant damage in either Florida or Cuba, where the quake was also felt in Havana.