Powerful earthquake off Cuba felt across South Florida, prompts evacuations and transit disruptions

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake off the northwest coast of Cuba led to reports of light shaking in parts of Florida on Monday afternoon, including in South Florida.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck about 65 miles to the west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, which is to the west of Havana. The epicenter was about 376 miles from Miami.

"Shaking from the recent M6.1 earthquake offshore of Cuba was felt in Florida, where earthquakes are not commonly felt. Did you feel it? (If you're in the area and did not feel it, that's data too!)," USGS posted on X. 

After the earthquake, Florida residents from Tampa and Orlando all the way to South Florida reported feeling shaking from the earthquake.

"The City of Miami is aware of a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that occurred off the coast of Cuba," the city said in a statement. "Resulting seismic activity was reportedly felt in several areas throughout the city, prompting multiple calls for service."

City officials said that Miami Fire-Rescue has responded to each reported incident.

"At this time, no significant injuries or major property damage have been reported, and all calls have been handled without further issue."

The earthquake also temporarily disrupted transit service in Downtown Miami. Miami-Dade County officials said Metrorail and Metromover service were suspended after the Stephen P. Clark Center was evacuated due to reports of building shaking. Both services have since resumed.

The shaking was also felt in South Dadeland, where at least one building was evacuated after tremors were reported inside. People who live, work and attend school in the area told CBS News Miami they felt rumbling beneath their feet shortly before 2:30 p.m.

"We just feel like a shaking and we're like, 'Oh, what was that?' And we just heard an alarm and it said for everyone to evacuate the building," Maria Torrado told CBS News Miami.

Torrado said there was a large police and fire-rescue presence at the scene during the evacuation and that occupants remained outside for about 45 minutes before being allowed back into the building.

Moments after the earthquake, the National Weather Service office in Miami posted an update saying there was no tsunami threat in South Florida.

What was the impact of the earthquake in Cuba?

The earthquake shook buildings across western Cuba and prompted concern among residents, though no injuries or damage were immediately reported, according to The Associated Press.

Flavia Pupo, a manager at a hotel in Pinar del Río, told AP that the shaking rattled the building and frightened people in the area.

"Everyone here is OK," she said by telephone. "The people on the street are a little bit scared."

Cuba is no stranger to seismic activity, with the island's Oriente fault zone producing damaging earthquakes in recent centuries, including a magnitude 7.7 quake in January 2020 that caused damage in Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

Has Florida felt shaking from earthquakes before?

While it's rare, shaking from powerful earthquakes in the region has been felt in Florida previously, including Miami.

Back in January 2020, a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica, with shaking reportedly being felt in Miami and other parts of South Florida.

"I was sitting at my desk in Aventura, I felt motion similar to feeling light-headed," a resident told CBS News Miami at the time. "It didn't stop and my coworker asked if the building was moving."

This article includes information from The Associated Press.