International
-Gaurav Sharma
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Cuba on Monday. It hit off the coast, about 100 kilometres from Mantua. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 26 kilometres. It shook the western part of the country for 20 seconds. Residents quickly fled their homes and offices to reach safety.
The tremors spread far beyond Cuba’s coastal borders. People in Florida, United States, felt the ground shake. Reports also came in from parts of Mexico after the tremor. The US National Weather Service in Miami confirmed the activity. They received reports of shaking across Southwestern Florida.
A shallow 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off Cuba near Mantua on Monday, shaking western areas for 20 seconds and detected in Florida and Mexico. This rare intraplate quake, the region’s strongest since 1880, caused initial panic but no major reported damage or casualties.
Seismic details and impact
Local residents described the initial moments of the quake. Carmel Delgado, 47, said the shaking felt like dizziness initially. The economist did not realise it was a major earthquake. Once the shaking grew, they quickly exited their building. Many people took to the streets during the event.
USGS seismologist Paul Earle called the earthquake quite unusual. It happened inside a tectonic plate where quakes are rare. This event was the strongest for this area since 1880. It hit within 322 kilometres of the region. Most past tremors here were scattered and less frequent.
Authorities have not reported any major damage or casualties yet. However, the event caused worry due to weak structures there. Decades of economic crisis have left many buildings in disrepair. Experts did not issue a tsunami warning or a watch. The situation remains calm despite the earlier panic.
