A magnitude 6.2 earthquake off the northwest coast of Cuba shook the southern Gulf of Mexico this Monday shortly after 2:00 p.m., and was felt in large areas of Florida, from Miami to Jacksonville, prompting a wave of testimonials on social media.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was located about 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua, in the northwest region of Cuba.
The National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) of Cuba adjusted the magnitude to 6.2 Mw and located the epicenter 142 km northwest of Minas de Matahambre, in the province of Pinar del Río, at a depth of 20 km.
The National Weather Service in Miami confirmed that there was no tsunami threat: "The tremors were felt in much of Florida following the 6.1 magnitude earthquake west of Cuba. No tsunami threat is expected."
The meteorologist Matt Devitt described the event as "the second largest earthquake ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico." Several users on social media noted that it was felt in various locations throughout Florida.
Multiple buildings in Miami were evacuated due to the tremors, according to NBC Miami. Accounts from residents throughout Florida reflected their surprise at an unusual phenomenon in the state.
Lindy Nanni wrote from Boca Raton: "I felt it in Boca. The television was shaking. Crazy!". Peter Daniel Hodges recounted: "I was sitting in my office and thought something had exploded underground because I felt a strong rumble." Amy Polito Rivera described: "My eight-story building felt like it was swaying."
In Sanibel, Falcon Hunter reported that "the tremor lasted 30 seconds" and that he was "about to leave the house." Brian N Leah Thurston felt it "clearly on the seventh floor of Gulf Coast Hospital." Anna Anna wrote from Orlando: "My hanging wine glasses vibrated for a while."
The earthquake was also felt in Naples, Fort Myers Beach, Bradenton, Port Charlotte, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Dade City, Saint Cloud, Clermont, Tallahassee, and even in Kingsland, Georgia, where Zac Johnson thought it was "the wind moving his trailer." Amy L. Jackson, on a cruise off the coast of Cuba, reported feeling it briefly.
In Cuba, the earthquake shook the western part of the island, particularly affecting Pinar del Río and Havana. At the time of the initial reports, no material damage or casualties were reported.
Western Cuba has historically recorded less seismic activity than the eastern part of the country.
The most recent comparable event in the region was a 6.0 magnitude earthquake recorded on April 16, 2020 with its epicenter located southwest of Sandino, Pinar del Río. In February 2025, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in the Caribbean Sea was felt from Cienfuegos to Pinar del Río without causing any damage.
The event this Monday is the second major earthquake of the year in Cuba, following the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the east in March, and one of the strongest recorded in the western part of the island in decades.
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