6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Off Cuba Shakes Florida and Mexico, Strongest in Nearly 150 Years
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Cuba's northwest coast on Monday, shaking buildings in Havana, triggering evacuations in Florida and Mexico, and causing temporary closures of rides at Walt Disney World. The quake, recorded at a shallow depth of approximately 16–26 miles by the USGS, is the strongest to hit within 200 miles of the epicenter since a 6.0-magnitude tremor near San Cristóbal, Cuba, in 1880. No injuries, deaths, or major structural damage were reported, though concerns remain about Cuba's aging building stock and ongoing communication blackouts.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at magnitude 6.1, with its epicenter approximately 104 km west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba — roughly two to four hours by car from Havana. USGS seismologist Paul Earle noted the quake occurred within a tectonic plate rather than along a plate boundary, making it unusually rare for the region; no earthquake of comparable size had struck within 200 miles of the epicenter since 1880. Tremors were felt as far north as Orlando, Florida, prompting Miami-Dade County to evacuate several buildings including a 28-story government high-rise and temporarily suspend two elevated commuter rail lines. In Mexico, evacuations were reported in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, and emergency protocols were activated in Yucatán and Quintana Roo states, though governors confirmed no damage. Several Walt Disney World attractions were briefly taken offline as a precautionary measure, with most later reopening. The US Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami threat, and USGS geophysicist William Barnhart described the event as the largest earthquake ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico with modern instruments, which date to the 1950s.
How coverage differed
Fox News focused primarily on the impact at Walt Disney World and the disruption to theme park guests, framing the story around a lifestyle and consumer angle. Other outlets, including The Independent and South China Morning Post, emphasized the historical significance of the quake and the vulnerability of Cuba's deteriorating building infrastructure amid ongoing economic hardship and power blackouts.
What different sources said
- The Guardian USLeft
Florida shaken by 6.1-magnitude earthquake off coast of Cuba
- South China Morning PostCenter
Strongest earthquake in nearly 150 years hits off Cuba, shaking Mexico and Florida
- The IndependentLeft
Powerful earthquake rattles Cuba with tremors felt in Florida and Mexico
- Fox NewsRight
Disney World guests shaken as rare earthquake near Cuba jolts Florida
- AP NewsCenter
Earthquake with 6.1 magnitude hits offshore Cuba, shaking buildings in Havana
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