A powerful earthquake off the coast of western Cuba was felt across parts of Florida on Monday afternoon, prompting temporary transit disruptions and precautionary evacuations in downtown Miami.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake measured magnitude 6.1 and struck at approximately 2 p.m. local time. The agency initially reported the event as a magnitude 6.4 quake before revising the figure.
The epicenter was located offshore, about 73 miles west-northwest of Mantua in Cuba’s western Pinar del Río province.
Shaking Reported Across South Florida
Residents across South Florida reported feeling the tremor, particularly in coastal communities.
Emily Zager, a resident of West Palm Beach, said the earthquake felt like a sudden jolt.
“It felt like a jolt,” she said, adding that she initially believed the sensation was caused by too much coffee before checking earthquake reports and confirming what had happened.
The National Weather Service office in South Florida said it received multiple reports of minor shaking from residents across southwestern parts of the state.
No Tsunami Threat Issued
Authorities confirmed there was no tsunami danger associated with the earthquake.
The National Weather Service reassured residents that while the quake was widely felt, no tsunami warnings or advisories were necessary.
Earthquakes in the Caribbean can occasionally generate tsunami concerns, particularly when strong offshore events occur, but officials said this event posed no such risk.
Miami Transit And Government Operations Temporarily Affected
The earthquake’s effects were particularly noticeable in downtown Miami, where reports of shaking prompted officials to temporarily close the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, the headquarters of Miami-Dade County government.
The 29-story building was evacuated shortly after employees reported feeling movement inside the structure.
At roughly the same time, Miami-Dade’s Department of Transportation and Public Works temporarily suspended service on both Metrorail and Metromover at Government Center Station while officials assessed the situation.
Service interruptions were short-lived, but the incident highlighted how even distant offshore earthquakes can have noticeable impacts hundreds of miles away across South Florida.
