A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck near western Cuba on Monday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was located 104 kilometers west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, in the southern Gulf at a depth of six miles.
The quake shook buildings in Havana and beyond. In Pinar del Rio, a manager at the Pinar del Río hotel described how the building shook, noting that while people on the street were scared, everyone was okay. No injuries or damage were immediately reported. However, decades of economic hardship have left many buildings in Cuba in severe disrepair, making them particularly vulnerable to seismic events.
The earthquake was felt as far away as southwestern Florida. Miami officials reported no major injuries, significant damage, or tsunami threats.
The region has a history of seismic activity associated with the Oriente fault zone off Cuba's southeast coast. This zone has produced damaging earthquakes in recent centuries, including a 7.7 magnitude quake in January 2020 that caused damage in Cuba and the Cayman Islands.