Earthquakes near Cuba felt by Florida residents
June 16, 2026, 7:03 a.m. ET
- Three earthquakes hit the same area near Cuba within a week.
- The 6.1 magnitude quake on June 8 was felt across Florida.
- Fewer residents reported feeling the aftershocks, although the USGS did receive a few reports from Florida residents.
- Does Florida have earthquakes? See what history shows.
One week after one of the most powerful earthquakes was recorded in the Gulf of America, a second aftershock occurred in the same area June 15.
A 6.1 magnitude quake happened near Cuba June 8, followed by a 4.3 magnitude quake on June 9.
The 4.9 magnitude aftershock reported June 15 by the U.S. Geological Survey was stronger than the June 9 quake, but much weaker than the original 6.1 magnitude quake exactly one week prior, on June 8.
➤ Map: See where recent earthquakes have been reported
As of early June 16, seven reports had been received by the U.S. Geological Survey from Florida residents who felt the 4.9 magnitude quake, including two from Marco Island.
The stronger quake on June 8 shook Florida residents across the state.
Earthquakes do happen in or near Florida, but they’re rare since the closest tectonic plate runs through the Caribbean Sea, just north of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and south of Cuba toward Guatemala.
Earthquakes regularly occur in that area, with a 3.4 magnitude quake reported over the last 24 hours off the coast of Dominican Republic, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Here’s what you should know.
3 earthquakes have hit same area near Cuba
Three earthquakes have hit the same area near Cuba over a week, between June 8 and June 15:
➤ Rare 6.1 earthquake off Cuba among strongest ever reported in Gulf
Were any of the earthquakes felt in Florida?
Most of Florida’s peninsula reported feeling the June 8 earthquake. Some felt the shaking as far away as the Panhandle, according to reports received by the USGS, which received almost 6,000 reports.
➤ Southwest Florida feels earthquake off Cuba
➤ ‘Insane’: Earthquake off coast of Cuba felt as far away as Tallahassee
Fewer felt the aftershocks, and the USGS reported 16 responses of those who felt the June 15 quake as of early June 16.
Seven of the responses were from Florida residents saying they felt the June 15 quake. Reports were received from residents in Saint Petersburg, Nokomis, Fort Myers, Tampa, Marco Island (2 responses) and Summerland Key.
Three reported to the USGS they felt the June 9 aftershock, but all three were from Florida: Palm Bay, Tampa and Winter Garden.
➤ Did you feel it? Share your experience with the U.S. Geological Survey here.
Will there be more aftershocks after Cuba earthquakes?
“No one can predict the exact time or place of any earthquake, including aftershocks,” the USGS said.
However, the agency does issue an “aftershock forecast,” which gives people an “understanding of the chances of having more earthquakes within a given time period in the affected area.”
The agency predicted the chances for at least one aftershock within a week of the original quake were:
- Magnitude 7+: less than 1%
- Magnitude 6+: 2%
- Magnitude 5+: 15%
- Magnitude 4+: 67%
- Two aftershocks in this range happened within a week
- Magnitude 3+: 98%
Latest earthquakes near me
USA TODAY Network-Florida offers a free earthquake database that is updated every 10 minutes. Can’t see the map? Open in a new browser.
Was June 8 earthquake strongest ever in the Gulf?
The June 8, 2026, earthquake “is the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in the Gulf of America since 1950, and one of only six magnitude 5 or larger earthquakes to occur within the Gulf since 1950,” according to USGS.
The only other magnitude 6.0 or stronger quake to be reported in the Gulf happened in 1880, which a magnitude 6.0 quake occurred near San Cristobal, Cuba.
What’s the largest earthquake recorded in Florida?
According to the University of Florida, geologists agree the largest earthquake ever recorded in Florida happened on Jan. 12, 1879, about 11:45 p.m. It measured 4.4.
“A pair of 30-second tremors, possibly centered in the Palatka area, sent crockery tumbling off shelves and jolted startled residents awake in a large part of north Florida,” according to the University of Florida.
“According to news accounts, the quake was felt in Cedar Key, Gainesville, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Tallahassee, among other cities.”
Looking offshore, an even larger earthquake was felt in Florida after a 5.9 quake occurred under the Gulf of Mexico Sept. 10, 2006. It rocked Southwest Florida.
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake was reported about 106 miles east of Cape Canaveral on Feb. 7, 2024.
What do earthquake magnitudes mean?
Magnitude measures the strength of an earthquake.
Unlike hurricane categories, which max out at Category 5 no matter what maximum speeds are over 156 mph, there is no upper limit for earthquake magnitudes, according to Michigan Technological University.
Here is an explanation of earthquake magnitudes and the effects:
- Below 2.5: Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph.
- Estimated number every year: millions
- 2.5 to 5.4: Often felt, but only causes minor damage.
- Estimated number every year: 500,000
- 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings and other structures.
- Estimated number every year: 350
- 6.1 to 6.9: May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas.
- Estimated number every year: 100
- 7.0 to 7.9: Major earthquake. Serious damage.
- Estimated number every year: 10-15
- 8.0 or greater: Great earthquake. Can destroy communities near the epicenter.
- Estimated number every year: One every year or two
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://naplesnews.com/newsletters.
Comments are closed.