A preliminary 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off Cuba’s western coast on Monday afternoon, with the U.S. Geological Survey placing it near Mantua. By 2:50 p.m. ET, the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning System had not issued any tsunami warnings, thou
For a second, the numbers looked like the start of a bigger disaster—then the warnings didn’t follow.
A preliminary 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook off Cuba’s western coast on Monday, June 8, sending vibrations across the region. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake at around 1 p.m. ET, with a depth of 6.2 miles and an epicenter about 65 miles northwest of Mantua, Cuba.
Even with no tsunami alert in hand, the tremor reached beyond the island. Spectrum News said vibrations from the earthquake were felt by local reporters at a facility in St. Petersburg, Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey also reported that people across Florida sent in reports of feeling the shaking. including from Fort Myers. Fort Lauderdale. Tampa. Sarasota and other areas.
By 2:50 p.m. ET, the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning System had not reported any warnings following the earthquake.
The timing matters, too. Cuba’s shake came Monday afternoon, and the reporting also referenced separate earthquake activity in the Philippines: officials said at least 32 people were feared dead after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the Philippines, with large aftershocks reported.
The sequence of facts is stark: a quake off Cuba at 1 p.m. ET, Florida reports of shaking, and then—by 2:50 p.m. ET—no tsunami warnings from the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning System.
6.1 earthquake Cuba Mantua U.S. Geological Survey tsunami warning system Florida shaking St. Petersburg Fort Myers Fort Lauderdale Tampa Sarasota