Liputan6.com, Jakarta - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Cuba on Monday, June 8, 2026, at approximately 2:00 PM EDT (18:00 UTC).
The tremors were felt across Florida, from South Florida to Tampa and Orlando, and even to Tallahassee, although there were no immediate reports of significant injuries or major property damage in either area.
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The epicenter was estimated to be about 105 kilometers (65 miles) west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, which is located west of Havana.
The earthquake's depth was approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the quake's magnitude at 6.4, before later revising it to 6.1. The epicenter was approximately 376 miles from Miami.
Flavia Pupo, a manager at the Pinar del Rio hotel in western Cuba, described how the building shook and felt fear.
“Everyone here is OK,” she said by telephone. “The people on the street are a little bit scared.”
Earthquake Tremors Felt in Florida
In Florida, tremors were felt in many cities, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakeland, and St. Petersburg.
Many residents reported feeling the shaking, with some initially thinking they were feeling dizzy or that their chairs were unstable.
A WUSF reporter in Sarasota even felt her water glass shaking.
As a result of the shaking, Metrorail and Metromover service in Downtown Miami was briefly suspended after the Stephen P. Clark Center was evacuated.
Several buildings in South Dadeland were also reported evacuated.
The City of Miami confirmed the seismic activity, which triggered numerous service calls, but no significant injuries or major property damage were reported.
The Manatee County Department of Public Safety also confirmed the earthquake via social media.
No Tsunami Warning
Meanwhile, in Cuba, the earthquake shook buildings across western Cuba, raising concerns among residents.
In Havana, many people rushed out of buildings and into the streets immediately after the quake struck.
As in Florida, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage in Cuba.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) stated that the earthquake did not pose a significant tsunami threat.
However, they noted the possibility of small tsunami waves along the coastlines closest to the epicenter.
The National Tsunami Warning Center also confirmed that there was no tsunami threat for the US east coast or the Gulf states.
Largest Instrumentally Recorded Earthquake
Earthquakes are rare in Florida due to its geographical location far from tectonic plate boundaries.
The nearest fault lines are in the Caribbean Sea.
The Oriente fault zone, a major fault system near Cuba, is known to be active and has produced damaging earthquakes in previous centuries, including a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in January 2020 that caused damage in Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
This magnitude 6.1 earthquake was the strongest recorded instrumentally in the region since around 1900, and the strongest in the Gulf in 33 years.
The USGS also warned that aftershocks are possible over the next few days.