A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook the Yucatán Channel on Monday and was felt in Cuba, Florida, and Mexico. The tremor occurred approximately 104 kilometers west-northwest of Mantua, in the extreme western tip of Cuba. Additionally, it occurred at an approximate depth of 10 kilometers, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Geological Survey. This triggered a regional alert, because the earthquake was perceived at several points in the Caribbean. It was also felt in nearby areas of the southeastern United States and Mexican territory.
What does official information say?
The phenomenon occurred in open waters and, for now, no significant tsunami threats are reported. This initial assessment is explained because there would not have been a significant vertical displacement of the seafloor following the tremor. Specialists also emphasized that this event did not occur in the zone where most major earthquakes affecting Cuba are typically recorded. Unlike those cases, linked to the Oriente fault and the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates, this earthquake was located north of the island’s western region. It occurred in an area considered relatively stable from a tectonic standpoint.
@telemundo51miami A strong preliminary magnitude 6.1 earthquake was recorded on Monday northwest of Mantua, Cuba. The earthquake was recorded around 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time), according to preliminary reports. Initially, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the magnitude of the event at 6.3. It later adjusted it to 6.1. The tremor was felt in areas of Florida, such as Miami and Tampa, where buildings were evacuated as a precaution. #earthquake #florida ♬ original sound – Telemundo51Miami
In this episode seismological services, tectonic experts, and authorities monitoring the event’s evolution in Cuba, Florida, and Mexico are participating. According to preliminary analysis, the Yucatán Channel area is a zone of geological transition between the Florida Platform, the Yucatán Platform, and deep basins of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Researchers believe the earthquake may have originated from the reactivation of ancient faults, formed more than 150 million years ago during the opening of the Gulf of Mexico. In the past hour, experts explained that the study of aftershocks and focal mechanisms will be key. This will allow them to define which structure produced the earthquake and confirm whether it was a single release of accumulated stress.
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