Earthquakes Strike Iran and Cuba Within Hours, No Major Damage Reported
TEHRAN/HAVANA — June 9, 2026 — Two earthquakes struck thousands of kilometres apart within hours of each other on Monday, June 8, shaking Iran and the Caribbean region in a rare back-to-back seismic sequence that briefly rattled residents but caused no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off Cuba’s northwest coast on Monday afternoon, followed hours later by a magnitude 5.0 tremor in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province early Tuesday.
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6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Cuba’s Coast
The stronger of the two quakes struck approximately 104 kilometres west-northwest of Mantua, a town in Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, at a depth of 26 kilometres. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at magnitude 6.1, while Cuba’s National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) recorded a magnitude of 6.2.
The tremor was widely felt across western Cuba, where residents rushed outdoors as buildings swayed. Reports described approximately 20 seconds of shaking that sent residents in Havana rushing out of buildings and into the streets. The shaking extended across the Caribbean, reaching parts of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, including Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, as well as the US state of Florida, where residents reported brief but noticeable tremors.
Seismologists at the USGS noted that Monday’s earthquake was unusual for this area of the Caribbean, occurring within a tectonic plate rather than along a plate boundary where earthquakes typically occur. “An earthquake this strong had not hit within 322 km (200 miles) of Monday’s quake since 1880, when a 6.0 temblor hit near San Cristobal, Cuba,” said Paul Earle, a seismologist at the USGS. This makes it one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in nearly 150 years.
Cuba’s eastern region along the Oriente fault zone typically records the most seismic activity on the island. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in January 2020 caused damage in both Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The western part of the country, where Monday’s quake struck, rarely experiences tremors of this strength.
No Major Damage Reported in Cuba
Authorities in Cuba, Mexico and the United States reported no immediate casualties or major structural damage. No tsunami warning was issued following the offshore quake.
Despite concerns about Cuba’s ageing buildings and ongoing power problems across the island, which have left many structures in severe disrepair, there were no immediate reports of serious damage. In Mexico, emergency protocols were activated in the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and buildings in Cancún were evacuated as a precaution.
Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Hits Southern Iran
Within hours of the Caribbean tremor, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck southern Iran’s Hormozgan province early Tuesday, June 9, according to Iranian state media.
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The quake hit near Sargaz in Hormozgan province at a depth of approximately 22 kilometres, making it shallow enough to be felt clearly at the surface. Residents reported brief shaking, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
Iran sits on multiple active fault lines and is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, with frequent seismic activity affecting both coastal and inland regions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation following the tremor.
Iran’s History of Major Earthquakes
Iran has a long history of devastating earthquakes due to its location on several major fault lines where the Arabian and Eurasian plates collide. The country’s most deadly earthquake in recent decades occurred in 1990 when a magnitude 7.4 quake killed approximately 35,000 people in northern Iran.
In November 2017, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near the Iran-Iraq border, killing at least 530 people in Iran and nine in Iraq, with more than 7,800 injured. That earthquake caused widespread destruction in the Kurdish town of Sarpol-e-Zahab, where many buildings constructed under a government housing project collapsed, drawing scrutiny over building standards.
More recently, in June 2019, a magnitude 5 earthquake struck Kashmar county in eastern Iran, resulting in four fatalities and 120 injuries, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Ongoing Monitoring
Seismic monitoring agencies continue to track potential aftershocks following both earthquakes. Cuba’s CENAIS reported that the magnitude 6.2 quake occurred at a depth of 20 kilometres, while the USGS recorded the event at a depth of 26 kilometres.
The USGS assessed that there is a low likelihood that Monday’s Cuban earthquake caused damage, though the agency noted that aftershocks remain possible in the region. Officials in all affected areas continue to monitor the situation and assess potential impacts.
SOURCES / INPUTS
- USGS: M 6.1 – 104 km WNW of Mantua, Cuba
- Newswatch: Two strong earthquakes strike Iran and Cuba within hours
- Gulf News: Magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolts waters off western Cuba
- TASS: Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 in western Cuba felt in Havana
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