Additional Coverage:
A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook the region about 65 miles off the coast of Cuba on Monday afternoon, unsettling residents across parts of the Caribbean and the southern United States.
The tremor, reportedly the most powerful in the area in 150 years, was felt as far away as Mexico and Florida. In Orlando, Florida, residents reported noticeable shaking, marking a rare seismic event for the state.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at a depth of 16 miles with a shaking intensity rated at level V, indicating the possibility of very light damage. However, no immediate damage reports surfaced, and no tsunami warnings were issued following the earthquake.
For U.S. locations experiencing the quake, the USGS “Did You Feel It?” program noted a lighter level IV impact, suggesting that while the shaking was perceptible, it was unlikely to have caused damage.
In central Florida, some residents shared their experiences of the quake. A Kissimmee resident described her third-floor apartment’s ceiling fan and office trembling, followed moments later by shaking in her living room entertainment system. Another Floridian recounted seeing kitchen lamps sway and a Lego set topple off a shelf, calling the sensation “weird” and “scary.”
Earthquakes are a rarity in Florida. A FOX 35 meteorologist noted during Monday’s coverage that in his 30 years reporting on Florida weather, he had never personally felt an earthquake. The last recorded quake in southern Florida occurred in January 2020 near a similar epicenter but with a lower magnitude and no reported shaking felt by residents.
Monday’s earthquake, being stronger and more widely felt, serves as a reminder that while uncommon, seismic activity can occasionally reach Florida’s doorstep.