A 6.1 Earthquake Near Cuba Shook Tulum and Cancún Monday Afternoon

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake with its epicenter approximately 104 kilometers west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, was felt across Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum on the afternoon of Monday, June 8. No injuries or structural damage were reported in the state.

The tremor struck at around 1:00 p.m. local time, reaching the Quintana Roo coast after traveling roughly 250 kilometers across the Caribbean. For a peninsula that rarely experiences seismic activity, the sensation caught residents and tourists off guard.

What happened and where it was felt

Residents in Cancún described objects shifting and brief vibrations. In Playa del Carmen and Tulum, reports on social media noted light shaking felt in residential neighborhoods and parts of the hotel zone, though perceived intensity varied by location. The quake was also reported in Chetumal, Tizimín, and Mérida, and according to international news outlets, it was felt as far north as Miami and Tampa, where some buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama confirmed the event on social media. "In an initial review, no damage or structural impacts have been reported in the state," she said. "As a preventive measure, verification and monitoring protocols remain active in vulnerable areas, airports, tourist zones, shopping centers, public buildings, and strategic infrastructure."

She also urged residents to conduct a preventive inspection of their homes upon returning and to report any concern or risk situation by calling 911. "Stay informed only through official channels and avoid spreading rumors," she added.

The Tulum airport evacuation and airport response

The earthquake triggered a partial evacuation at the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum as a security measure. Travelers and staff were briefly moved to open areas while safety conditions were verified. Operations resumed normally once the inspection was complete.

The Cancún International Airport also activated its security protocols but continued operating without interruption. The Cancún city hall building was evacuated as well, in line with standard emergency procedures.

No tsunami risk, official sources confirm

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that the event posed no tsunami risk for Quintana Roo's coastline. The governor's statement echoed that assessment, noting that the situation was being monitored continuously.

Cuba sits along a seismically active zone where the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates converge. Historical records show the island has experienced at least six earthquakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, making events of this scale rare but not unprecedented for the region.

A second earthquake earlier the same morning

Earlier that morning, at around 10:05 a.m., the National Seismological Service registered a separate magnitude 4.2 earthquake located 14 kilometers northeast of Ticul, Yucatán, at a depth of five kilometers. That event generated no reports of being felt in Quintana Roo and was not linked to the Cuba quake.

The two events occurring on the same day drew attention on social media, though seismologists have not suggested any causal connection between them.

What residents and tourists should know

Civil protection authorities across the state were deployed to rule out damage. No alerts beyond standard monitoring protocols remain active as of Monday afternoon. Anyone who notices structural damage to their home or property is advised to call 911.

The Yucatán Peninsula is generally considered a low-seismicity zone, which is precisely why Monday's tremor drew such immediate attention. The sensation of a perceptible earthquake is genuinely unusual in this part of Mexico, and the regional response, from airport evacuations to social media documentation, reflected that unfamiliarity.

Did you feel the earthquake today? Share where you were and what you experienced with us on Instagram and Facebook at @thetulumtimes.