6.1 Earthquake Near Cuba Shakes Florida — Lake County Closes Offices

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba on Monday afternoon and was felt across much of Florida. People in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami all reported feeling the shaking around 2 p.m.
The USGS put the epicenter about 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at a depth of 26 miles. The agency originally recorded it as a 6.4 before adjusting the figure down to 6.1.
No tsunami threat. The National Weather Service in Miami was clear about that. No significant injuries or major property damage were reported either.

What Happened on the Ground

In Orange County, the public works building was evacuated after employees felt the building shake. In Miami, multiple locations reported shaking — including Miami-Dade’s Government Center, Miami Beach City Hall, and Mount Sinai Medical Center. The Miami Beach Fire Department posted on X: “Minor tremors from an earthquake in the Gulf, SW of Cuba have been felt in South Florida. There is no cause for alarm.”
Lake County took it a step further. County officials announced on Facebook that all Lake County offices would be closed for the rest of the day — citing “conditions experienced locally from today’s earthquake” and an “abundance of caution.

Was Closing the Offices the Right Call?

That decision is going to get some pushback. USGS confirmed no tsunami threat. No damage was reported. People felt some shaking — that’s it. Closing an entire county’s government offices over light tremors from a quake centered in Cuba is a bold move.
You can argue it either way. Public safety first — fair enough. But when scientists are telling you there’s no danger, shutting everything down starts to look more like overreaction than precaution.

The Bigger Picture

Florida rarely feels earthquakes. The state sits far from major fault lines. When something like this happens, people notice — and officials react fast, sometimes faster than the situation requires.
Cuba took the brunt of this one. The island’s older buildings and limited resources make a 6.1 quake genuinely dangerous there. That part of the story deserves more attention than the offices that closed in Lake County.
Aftershocks are expected in the coming days, according to USGS.
Source: USGS, Fox 35 Orlando, NBC Miami, CBS Miami