You weren’t imagining things. If you felt a subtle swaying or noticed light shaking around 2:00 PM today, you were experiencing the shockwaves of a powerful earthquake that struck hundreds of miles away.
A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in the southern Gulf of Mexico, roughly 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba.
Because of how seismic waves travel through the Earth’s crust, the tremors vibrated all the way up the Florida Peninsula. Across Polk County—including reports from South Lakeland, Mulberry, Bartow, and Davenport—residents noted their desks shifting, couches moving, and cars slightly rocking while idling.
Here is what you need to know about the situation right now:
- No Tsunami Threat: The National Tsunami Warning Center and the National Weather Service immediately confirmed there is no tsunami danger for the Gulf Coast or the U.S. East Coast.
- A Rare Event: The USGS noted that earthquakes in this specific part of the Gulf basin are highly unusual intraplate events (occurring within a tectonic plate rather than along a boundary line). Seismologists reported this is the strongest earthquake to strike this immediate area since 1880.
- No Local Damage: While the tremor caused vertical swaying—especially noticeable to people on the upper floors of buildings across Florida—there have been no reports of structural damage or injuries in the state.
If you felt the ground move, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey track these rare occurrences through community data. You can log your experience on the official USGS “Did You Feel It?” portal to help map how far the vibrations traveled.