A 4.9 aftershock was recorded off the west coast of Cuba on the afternoon of Monday, June 15, one week after a stronger earthquake rocked the same area and caused tremors that could be felt in Palm Beach County and other parts of Florida.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the aftershock occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m., in the southern Gulf of Mexico, also called the Gulf of America, about 62 miles west of Mantua.
At least five aftershock incidents were reported in Puerto Rico as well, according to USGS tracking maps.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the same area June 8, causing structures hundreds of miles away in Florida to shake, including reported incidents in Palm Beach County. That earthquake also struck in the early afternoon.
Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area during the days to years following a larger event or “mainshock,” the USGS reports.
Scientists said the 6.1 reading last week was strong for seismic activity near the gulf. The USGS reported that the June 15 aftershock could be felt in parts of the Florida Keys and along the Gulf coast from Tampa to Marco Island.
The National Weather Service’s Miami office did not issue any tsunami warnings for South Florida.
Staff writer Chad Gillis of the Fort Myers News-Press and the Naples Daily News contributed to this story.
Julius Whigham II covers northern Palm Beach County and public safety for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 4.9 aftershock hits off Cuba coast week after earthquake rocked gulf
Reporting by Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
