A historically strong earthquake struck off Cuba’s northwest coast on Monday, according to official reports, shaking parts of Cuba, Mexico and Florida that are not typically prone to earthquakes.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the magnitude 6.1 earthquake at a shallow depth of 26 km (16 miles) and its epicenter 104 km west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, about two to four hours by car from the capital, Havana.
Monday’s earthquake was unusual for this area of the Caribbean, said Paul Earle, a seismologist with the USGS, noting that the earthquake occurred within a tectonic plate, where earthquakes are usually more scattered and less frequent than when they occur along plate boundaries.
An earthquake this strong had not struck within 322 km (200 miles) of Monday’s earthquake since 1880, when a 6.0 storm struck near San Cristobal, Cuba, Earle said.
Authorities have yet to report major damage or injuries, but the quake raised concerns in Cuba, where decades of economic crisis have left buildings in serious disrepair. Ongoing widespread power outages throughout the region have made communication difficult.
“It felt strong. I had never felt anything like it,” said Yusmila Hernandez, 44, at her home in Pinar del Rio, western Cuba.
“People were running outside, everybody was scared. I can’t even explain it. It felt like no earthquake has ever been felt here before,” Hernandez said.
The USGS reported that tremors were also felt in Florida. In Mexico, the quake was felt in the tourist centers of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum on the country’s Yucatan Peninsula. Residents and workers in downtown Cancun, unaccustomed to strong earthquakes, evacuated buildings.
Emergency protocols were activated in Mexico’s Yucatan and Quintana Roo states, but there were no reports of injuries yet, state governors both said on social media.
No tsunami warning or watch was issued after the earthquake, according to the US National Weather Service.
