A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of western Cuba on Monday, sending tremors through Havana and other parts of the island while also being felt across portions of Florida in the United States. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) in waters west of the Cuban capital. Authorities reported no immediate injuries or significant damage following the seismic event.

Residents in Havana and western Cuba described noticeable shaking as buildings swayed for several seconds. Flavia Pupo, a manager at a hotel in Pinar del Rio, said the tremor caused concern among people in the area, although everyone remained safe. Emergency officials continued monitoring the situation as residents assessed conditions in affected communities. Initial reports indicated that the earthquake caused fear among some residents but did not result in major structural impacts.

The earthquake's effects extended beyond Cuba, with people across parts of Florida reporting that they felt the ground shake. The National Weather Service in Miami received numerous reports from southwestern Florida, while social media users in areas north of Orlando also described experiencing vibrations. In Fort Lauderdale, office worker Maria Moncayo said she initially believed nearby construction activity was causing the movement before realizing it was an earthquake. The shaking reportedly lasted for about a minute in some locations.

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As a precaution, officials in Miami-Dade County temporarily evacuated several government buildings, including the county's main administrative high-rise in downtown Miami. Authorities also briefly suspended operations on two elevated commuter rail services while inspections were conducted. No injuries or major property damage were reported in Florida, and normal activities gradually resumed after safety assessments were completed.

Experts described the earthquake as an unusually significant event for the Gulf of Mexico region. U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist William Barnhart noted that it is the largest earthquake recorded in the Gulf using modern instruments, which have been in operation since the 1950s. He said only a handful of earthquakes measuring magnitude 5 or greater have been documented in the region, highlighting the rarity of Monday's seismic activity.

Officials confirmed that the earthquake did not generate a tsunami. Scientists cautioned that western Cuba could experience aftershocks in the coming days, though these are unlikely to be strongly felt in Florida. Cuba has a history of seismic activity, particularly near the Oriente fault zone off its southeastern coast, which has produced several damaging earthquakes over the centuries, including a magnitude 7.7 event in 2020 that affected both Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

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