A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the northwestern coast of Cuba on Monday, sending tremors across Havana, southern Florida and parts of Mexico in what seismologists say is the region's strongest quake in nearly 150 years. The US Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre approximately 105 kilometres northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at a depth of about 26 kilometres beneath the sea floor. No deaths, injuries or major structural damage were immediately reported.

In Havana, the Cuban capital, the shaking prompted precautionary evacuations of office buildings and high-rise properties across several districts. Among the buildings cleared was the historic Lonja del Comercio, a landmark commercial building in the city centre, where workers and visitors poured into nearby streets as officials conducted safety inspections. Witnesses described monitors shaking on desks and colleagues rushing down stairwells in moments of confusion before the all-clear was given. The episode renewed concerns about Havana's ageing building stock, much of which dates back several decades, and underscored the importance of rapid post-earthquake assessments given Cuba's broader infrastructure challenges.

The tremor was also felt hundreds of kilometres away. In Florida — a state unaccustomed to seismic activity — residents across the Tampa Bay area reported distinct shaking. Several described swaying apartment buildings, sloshing liquid and rattling fixtures.