A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck off the northwest coast of Cuba on Monday was felt in parts of Cuba, Mexico, and the state of Florida. These regions are generally not accustomed to such significant seismic activity.
“Elchi” reports that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.1 and stated that it occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 26 kilometers.
The agency located the epicenter 104 kilometers west-northwest of the city of Mantua, Cuba. This location is approximately two to four hours away from the capital, Havana.
Due to decades of economic hardship in Cuba, many buildings are in a severely dilapidated state, making them particularly vulnerable to seismic events. Furthermore, widespread power outages in the region are significantly disrupting communications.
Yusmila Hernandez, a 44-year-old from Pinar del Rio, described her experience as follows:
“I felt it very strongly. I had never felt anything like this before. People ran outside in fear. I cannot describe it. It was unlike any earthquake we have experienced here before.”
The earthquake was also recorded in Florida, and in Mexico, it was felt in tourist cities such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula. Residents and workers in downtown Cancun, who are not familiar with strong earthquakes, quickly evacuated buildings.
Emergency protocols were activated in the Mexican states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo, and the governors of both states confirmed on social media that no damage had been reported so far.
The U.S. National Weather Service also stated that no tsunami warning or additional measures were issued following the earthquake.
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