Rare Cuba Earthquake Jolts Florida, Disney World Shuts Rides
A rare magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of northwestern Cuba on Monday afternoon, sending tremors hundreds of miles across Florida and prompting Walt Disney World to temporarily close 10 attractions as a precautionary safety measure. No injuries or significant damage were reported in either Cuba or Florida.
The Earthquake
The earthquake struck at 2:00 p.m. EDT on June 8, approximately 102 kilometers (65 miles) west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at a shallow depth of 26 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS classified the event as an intraplate earthquake caused by reverse faulting within the North America plate, occurring 400-450 kilometers north of the nearest active plate boundary.
The quake was the strongest recorded in Gulf of America waters since 1959 and one of only six magnitude 5 or larger earthquakes to occur within the Gulf since 1950, USGS data shows. The National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there was no tsunami threat.
Widespread Tremors Across Florida
Residents from the Tampa Bay area through Central Florida and as far north as Jacksonville reported feeling the shaking. The National Weather Service in Miami received numerous reports of tremors across southwestern Florida.
In Miami, the Stephen P. Clark Center was evacuated, and Miami-Dade County temporarily suspended Metrorail and Metromover service as a precaution, according to CBS Miami. At least one building in South Dadeland was evacuated for approximately 45 minutes before residents were allowed to return.
“We just feel like a shaking and we’re like, ‘Oh, what was that?’ And we just heard an alarm and it said for everyone to evacuate the building,” Maria Torrado, a South Dadeland resident, told CBS Miami.
Residents across the state expressed surprise at the unusual event. “It was very strong and it was honestly kind of scary,” Britnee Jeffries, a Tampa Bay resident, told WFLA. “I wasn’t really worried in a sense that I thought it was here because we don’t get earthquakes here. But at the same time, I was worried because we don’t get them here.”
Disney World Ride Closures
Shortly after the tremors were felt, Walt Disney World temporarily closed multiple attractions across its parks as a safety precaution. According to Fox News, the affected rides included Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, TRON Lightcycle Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and The Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom; Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT; Na’vi River Journey at Animal Kingdom; and the Aerophile balloon ride at Disney Springs.
Some rides, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and TRON Lightcycle Run, reopened later in the afternoon after inspections were completed. Disney has not officially confirmed whether the closures were directly related to the earthquake, but the timing strongly suggests precautionary safety checks were conducted.
FOX Weather noted that the last earthquake felt in Florida was on November 11, 2024, making Monday’s event a rare occurrence for the state.
Impact in Cuba and Mexico
In Cuba, shaking was reported across western parts of the island, particularly in Pinar del Río province. Flavia Pupo, a hotel manager in the region, told the Associated Press that the shaking frightened people but everyone was safe. Cuba has experienced damaging earthquakes historically, including a magnitude 7.7 quake in January 2020.
In Mexico, authorities reported evacuations in Cancún, with shaking felt in Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Emergency measures were implemented in Yucatán and Quintana Roo as a precaution.
Aftershock Forecast
The USGS estimates a 97% chance of magnitude 3 or greater aftershocks within the week following the main event, with an 11% chance of a magnitude 5 or greater aftershock.
What This Means for Florida
While Florida is not known for seismic activity, Monday’s earthquake served as a reminder that the region is not entirely immune to tectonic events. The swift precautionary responses at Disney World, Miami transit systems, and buildings across South Florida demonstrated that existing safety protocols functioned effectively, even in a region unaccustomed to earthquakes.
As seismologists continue to study this rare intraplate event, the question remains whether it could prompt renewed attention to earthquake preparedness in a state better known for hurricanes than tremors.