A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Gulf of Mexico about 104 km northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at roughly 2:00 P.M. EDT and at a depth of about 26 km. Shaking was felt in southwestern Florida, but officials report no damage and no tsunami threat. Scientists called the quake "unusual" because it occurred inside a tectonic plate rather than along a plate boundary, and noted it may warrant further study. The event coincided with an unrelated magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the Philippines.
Unusual Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake in Gulf of Mexico Shakes Cuba and Southwestern Florida
Amanda Montañez
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, centered about 104 kilometers (roughly 65 miles) northwest of Mantua, Cuba. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Miami reported shaking was felt across southwestern Florida. The temblor occurred at about 2:00 P.M. EDT and was located approximately 26 kilometers (about 16 miles) below the surface.
No Damage or Tsunami Threat Reported
Robert Garcia, a warning coordination meteorologist at NWS Miami, said there have been no reports of damage in South Florida and that there is currently no tsunami threat.
Why This Quake Is Unusual
Seismologists described the event as notable because it occurred well inside a tectonic plate rather than along a plate boundary. "This quake is in a somewhat unusual spot, and it's pretty large," said independent earthquake geologist Wendy Bohon, noting that no earthquakes above magnitude 5.0 have been recorded within 250 kilometers of this epicenter. Intraplate earthquakes of this size are uncommon but not unprecedented.
Susan Hough, U.S. Geological Survey: The Caribbean has its own concentrated zone of seismic activity—similar in concept to the Pacific's Ring of Fire—but Monday's quake happened away from that boundary, which may prompt further scientific study.
Historical Context
Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist at an NBC affiliate in Tampa, noted on Bluesky that the event ranks among the largest earthquakes recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. He pointed to a 1959 event near Veracruz, Mexico, of about magnitude 6.4 as likely the strongest known historic earthquake in the region.
Coincidence With Philippines Earthquake
The Gulf quake occurred the same day as an unrelated magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the coast of the Philippines. That larger temblor happened in a subduction zone—a type of plate boundary capable of producing the planet's strongest earthquakes.
Sources: National Weather Service (Miami), statements from seismologists Wendy Bohon and Susan Hough, and reporting from regional meteorologists.
Editor's Note (June 8, 2026): This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.
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