A strong earthquake off the coast of Cuba was felt across portions of Florida on Monday afternoon, prompting reports of shaking from residents hundreds of miles away.
Earthquake Details
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.1 earthquake approximately 91 miles off the coast of Puerto Esperanza, Cuba. The quake struck northwest of Mantua and was centered beneath waters in the southern Gulf of America.
The National Weather Service office in Miami said it received multiple reports of shaking from residents in southwestern Florida following the earthquake. Tremors were also reported as far north as the Tampa Bay area, roughly 400 miles from the quake’s epicenter.
Despite the offshore location, officials said there was no tsunami threat associated with the earthquake. Most of the seismic activity occurred beneath the Gulf waters west of Cuba, where earthquakes of this strength are relatively uncommon.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was the strongest recorded in Gulf waters since 1959. While Florida is not known for frequent earthquakes, residents occasionally feel tremors originating from seismic activity in the Caribbean region.
No immediate reports of injuries or significant damage were released in Cuba or Florida following Monday’s earthquake. Authorities continued to monitor the situation as additional information became available.
The Caribbean region sits near several active fault systems, making Cuba and neighboring islands more susceptible to earthquakes than the southeastern United States. Although strong earthquakes are not unusual in the broader Caribbean basin, events powerful enough to be felt across much of Florida remain relatively rare.
Officials urged residents who experienced shaking to monitor updates from emergency management agencies and the U.S. Geological Survey. Investigators were also watching for possible aftershocks, which can follow significant seismic events.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
