Written by on . Last updated July 3rd, 2026.

An unusually powerful M6.1 earthquake struck in the Gulf Of Mexico 154 kilometer from Pinar del Río, Cuba in the afternoon of Monday June 8th, 2026. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 1.6 million people. Another country near the epicenter is Mexico.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Gulf Of Mexico, 97 kilometers (60 mi) off the coast of Cuba, 154 kilometer west of Pinar del Río. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 26 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time: Jun 8, 2026 14:00 (Havana Time)
- Jun 8, 2026 18:00 Universal Time.
Location: 154 km west of Pinar del Río, Cuba.
Coordinates 22°48'5"N 85°8'18"W.
Map: Map of area around epicenter.
Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude: MAG 6.1
Detected by 79 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.03 .
Depth: 26 km (16 mi)
A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:
V
Moderate

On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk: Low tsunami risk
Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's.
Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 1.6 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 1.6 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is V, which corresponds with moderate shaking and very light damage. Roughly 0 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 1.1 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Cuba , around 600 thousand people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Roughly 1 million people were exposed to shaking in Mexico .

People MMI Level Shaking Damage
0
I
Not noticable None
0
II
Very weak None
529,500
III
Weak Probably none
1,059,000
IV
Light Likely none
0
V
Moderate Very light
0
VI
Strong Light
0
VII
Very Strong Moderate
0
VIII
Severe Moderate to heavy
0
IX
Violent Heavy
0
X
Extreme Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

3 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Cuba and Mexico . Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in The United States.

Minas de Matahambre in Pinar del Río, Cuba is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 125 kilometer (78 mi) west of Minas de Matahambre. Minas de Matahambre experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Havana is located 284 km to the east (intensity unknown, possibly low). Cancún is located 252 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Pinar del Río is located 154 km to the east and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Distance Place Intensity (MMI)
125 km (78 mi)
E from epicenter
Minas de Matahambre

Pinar del Río, Cuba.
IV
Light
127 km (79 mi)
SE from epicenter
Guane

Pinar del Río, Cuba.
IV
Light
148 km (92 mi)
E from epicenter
Viñales

Pinar del Río, Cuba.
IV
Light
154 km (96 mi)
E from epicenter
Pinar del Río

Pinar del Río, Cuba.
IV
Light
170 km (106 mi)
E from epicenter
Consolación del Sur

Pinar del Río, Cuba.
IV
Light
195 km (121 mi)
E from epicenter
Los Palacios

Pinar del Río, Cuba.
IV
Light
203 km (126 mi)
E from epicenter
Bahía Honda

Aremisa, Cuba.
214 km (133 mi)
E from epicenter
San Cristobal

Aremisa, Cuba.
244 km (152 mi)
E from epicenter
Artemisa

Aremisa, Cuba.
245 km (152 mi)
E from epicenter
Mariel

Aremisa, Cuba.
252 km (157 mi)
SW from epicenter
Cancún

Quintana Roo, Mexico.
III
Weak
252 km (157 mi)
E from epicenter
Guanajay

Aremisa, Cuba.
261 km (162 mi)
E from epicenter
Nueva Gerona

Isla de la Juventud, Cuba.
262 km (163 mi)
E from epicenter
Alquízar

Aremisa, Cuba.
266 km (165 mi)
E from epicenter
Bauta

Aremisa, Cuba.
270 km (168 mi)
E from epicenter
San Antonio de los Baños

Aremisa, Cuba.
270 km (168 mi)
E from epicenter
Güira de Melena

Aremisa, Cuba.
278 km (173 mi)
E from epicenter
La Salud

Mayabeque, Cuba.
281 km (175 mi)
E from epicenter
Boyeros

Havana, Cuba.
282 km (175 mi)
E from epicenter
Santiago de las Vegas

Havana, Cuba.
282 km (175 mi)
E from epicenter
Bejucal

Mayabeque, Cuba.
284 km (176 mi)
E from epicenter
Arroyo Naranjo

Havana, Cuba.
284 km (176 mi)
E from epicenter
Cerro

Havana, Cuba.
284 km (176 mi)
E from epicenter
Havana

Havana, Cuba.
286 km (178 mi)
E from epicenter
Centro Habana

Havana, Cuba.
286 km (178 mi)
E from epicenter
Diez de Octubre

Havana, Cuba.
287 km (178 mi)
E from epicenter
La Habana Vieja

Havana, Cuba.
290 km (180 mi)
E from epicenter
Ciudad Camilo Cienfuegos

Havana, Cuba.
290 km (180 mi)
E from epicenter
Regla

Havana, Cuba.
290 km (180 mi)
E from epicenter
San Miguel del Padrón

Havana, Cuba.
293 km (182 mi)
E from epicenter
Guanabacoa

Havana, Cuba.
295 km (183 mi)
E from epicenter
Alamar

Havana, Cuba.
307 km (191 mi)
E from epicenter
San José de las Lajas

Mayabeque, Cuba.
314 km (195 mi)
SW from epicenter
Playa del Carmen

Quintana Roo, Mexico.
317 km (197 mi)
SW from epicenter
Cozumel

Quintana Roo, Mexico.
319 km (198 mi)
E from epicenter
Güines

Mayabeque, Cuba.
322 km (200 mi)
E from epicenter
Jaruco

Mayabeque, Cuba.
331 km (206 mi)
E from epicenter
Santa Cruz del Norte

Mayabeque, Cuba.
336 km (209 mi)
E from epicenter
Madruga

Mayabeque, Cuba.
361 km (224 mi)
SW from epicenter
Tizimín

Yucatán, Mexico.
366 km (227 mi)
E from epicenter
Matanzas

Matanzas, Cuba.
369 km (229 mi)
E from epicenter
Unión de Reyes

Matanzas, Cuba.
375 km (233 mi)
SW from epicenter
Tulum

Quintana Roo, Mexico.
382 km (237 mi)
E from epicenter
Limonar

Matanzas, Cuba.
394 km (245 mi)
SW from epicenter
Valladolid

Yucatán, Mexico.
245 mi (394 km)
NE from epicenter
Key West

Florida, The United States.
395 km (245 mi)
E from epicenter
Pedro Betancourt

Matanzas, Cuba.
Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt
II Weak
III Weak
IV Light
V Moderate
VI Strong
VII Very Strong
VIII Severe
IX Violent
X Extreme
Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 95 people in 4 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 95 people have reported shaking in 17 places in 4 countries (Cuba, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Belize).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

  • Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico: 35 people.
  • Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico: 15 people.
  • Bonfil, Quintana Roo, Mexico: 13 people.
  • Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico: 10 people.
  • Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico: 4 people.
  • Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico: 3 people.
  • Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico: 3 people.
  • Mantua, Pinar del Río, Cuba: 2 people.
  • Havanna, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba: 2 people.
  • West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: 1 person.

3 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 3 smaller aftershocks. Just 1 day after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.4 was detected 8 km (5 mi) southwest of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Classification Magnitude When Where
Main Shock
This Earthquake
M 6.1 Jun 8, 2026 14:00
(Havana Time)
-
Aftershock M 3.5 1 hr later
Jun 8, 2026 15:14 (Havana Time)
16 km (10 mi)
NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock M 3.8 5 hrs later
Jun 8, 2026 18:31 (Havana Time)
11 km (7 mi)
E from Main Shock.
Aftershock M 4.4 1 day later
Jun 9, 2026 21:04 (Havana Time)
8 km (5 mi)
SW from Main Shock.
Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 6.1 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor Under Sea? MAG-6.5 or stronger? Shallow depth?
Explanation Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami.
MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes.
MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. Not this earthquake.
This earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 26 km (16 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 03/07/26 00:48 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.

  1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000srjx
  2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260608_0000390
  3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
  4. Google Maps: Static API
  5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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