SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck approximately 65 miles off the coast of Cuba on Monday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
WINK News received reports of shaking from several communities throughout Southwest Florida, though no significant impacts or damage was immediately reported.
Residents from Naples to Cape Coral and Punta Gorda reported feeling tremors and shaking that lasted several seconds.
“I was on my computer, and all of a sudden the my building that I’m in, it’s an eight story building, it violently shook, and it did it for about three seconds, a couple of things fell off the, you know, shelf like books and that kind of stuff, but nothing, nothing broke out of the cabins or anything, and and I just said that was unusual,” said a man who lives on Marco Island.
While Florida is not known for frequent earthquakes, seismic activity in Cuba and the Caribbean can occasionally be felt across South Florida due to the region’s proximity to several active fault zones. These powerful fault systems can transmit low-frequency seismic waves through the Earth’s crust and across surrounding waters, allowing tremors to travel long distances before gradually weakening.
At least one Fort Myers building evacuated
A security officer told WINK News that dozens of people were evacuated from the fourth floor of the Lee County Administration Building during the shaking.
Many of those who evacuated returned to the building shortly after the tremors were felt.
“It was crazy, I was on the phone and all of a sudden my chair started moving,” said a woman who works in a five-story building in downtown Fort Myers. “I kinda was wondering if I was having some sort of health emergency and then realized that my desk was also moving,” she added.
USGS said the earthquake occurred 65 miles from Mantua, Cuba, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Originally, USGS had the earthquake rated at a 6.4 magnitude before lowering the rating.
No active tsunami threat
The National Tsunami Warning Center has said there is no tsunami danger from the earthquake.
“There is no tsunami danger for the U.S. east coast, the Gulf of America states, or the eastern coast of Canada,” they center said in a statement.
The WINK Weather Authority is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates if any additional seismic activity or related threats develop.