What the record shows for Cuba
The strongest earthquake on record near Cuba is a magnitude 7.7 in 2020, centred 123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica - 6 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 40 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Cuba - roughly 2 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 3 tsunamis within 300 km of Cuba between 1931 and 2020. The most significant was in 2020 near Off Se Coast Of Cuba, triggered by an M7.7 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Eastern Cuba lies near the Oriente fault along the North American–Caribbean plate boundary.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Cuba.
Earthquake risk in Cuba - FAQ
Is Cuba at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 2 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 2020.
What was the biggest earthquake in Cuba?
The strongest earthquake on record near Cuba is M7.7, in 2020 (123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica), from USGS.
Does Cuba get tsunamis?
Yes - 3 tsunamis since 1931 (most recently 2020) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Cuba?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.