Will Florida experience any aftershocks after a 6.1 earthquake off Cuba June 8 also rattled parts of the Sunshine State?
The experience shook some residents, who took to social media wondering if what they felt really was an earthquake and whether anyone else felt it, too.
They did.
➤ Map: Recent earthquakes reported
Earthquakes do happen in or near Florida, but they’re rather 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, as in almost daily, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Here’s what you should know.
How strong was the earthquake near Cuba?
The USGS reported the earthquake that happened about 2 p.m. ET June 8 registered 6.1.
The epicenter was about 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, about 16 miles deep in the southern Gulf of America.
The quake was described as an “intraplate earthquake,” which occurs within the interior of tectonic plates, farther away from the pressure common at active plate boundaries and hence less frequent, according to the USGS.
After 2 p.m. ET Monday, June 8, 2026, chatter on social media lit up around Florida about a possible earthquake.
Will there be any aftershocks after Cuba earthquake?
“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 chance for at least one aftershock within the next week are:
How much of Florida felt the earthquake?
Most of Florida’s peninsula reported feeling the earthquake that happened off Cuba. Some felt the shaking as far away as the Panhandle, according to reports received by the USGS.
➤ Southwest Florida feels earthquake off Cuba
➤ ‘Insane’: Earthquake off coast of Cuba felt as far away as Tallahassee
As of early June 9, the agency had received 5,462 response from people who felt the earthquake.
Did you feel it? Share your experience with the U.S. Geological Survey here.
What should you do if there’s an earthquake?
Florida residents are more used to preparing for hurricanes, which at least give you some, if not a lot of warning.
That’s not the case with earthquakes.
If you feel shaking, advice from the U.S. Geological Survey is to “drop, cover and hold on.”
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 this the largest earthquake in the Gulf?
“This 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.
“In 1880, an earthquake of approximately M6.0 occurred near San Cristobal, Cuba, and was felt in Florida. The 1880 earthquake led to reports of building damages and fatalities in Cuba.”
Was there any earthquake damage in Cuba?
Authorities have not yet reported any major damage or casualties, but the quake spiked concern in Cuba, where decades of economic crisis have left buildings in severe disrepair, according to Reuters.
Ongoing widespread blackouts across the region have made communications difficult.
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:
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.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Could Florida feel aftershocks after Cuba earthquake? How to check
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
