Cuba is located in an area with several active fault systems which produce on average about 2000 seismic events each year.Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas, 2009 While most registered seismic events pass unnoticed, the island has been struck by a number of destructive earthquakes over the past four centuries, including several major quakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or above.

Approximately 70% of seismic activity in Cuba emanates from the Oriente fault zone, located in the Bartlett-Cayman fault system which runs along the south-eastern coast of Cuba and marks the tectonic boundary between the North American plate and the Caribbean plate.Cotilla, 2007 The 12 currently active faults in Cuba also include the Cauto-Nipe, Cochinos and Nortecubana faults. Destructive earthquakes originating from the Oriente fault occurred in 1766 (= 7.6), 1852 ( = 7.2) and 1932 ( = 6.75).Alvarez 1999:2 Some studies suggested there is a high probability the Oriente fault would produce a magnitude 7 earthquake,Rubio, 1985 this happening in January 2020, with a magnitude of 7.7, the highest registered in this country's history.

Notable earthquakes in recent Cuban history include the following:

Name Date Epicentre M Intensity Depth Notes Deaths 1578 Cuba earthquake 157808000000August 1578 Santiago de Cuba 6.8 VIII 30 km Magnitude estimated at 6.8 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at VIII EMS-98. 1580 Cuba earthquake 1580121900001580-12-19 Santiago de CubaMilne, 1912: 30 1632 Cuba earthquake 163210000000October 1632 Santiago de CubaMilne, 1912: 32 1675 Cuba earthquake 1675021100001675-02-11 Santiago de CubaMilne, 1912: 36 5.8 VII 30 km Magnitude estimated at 5.8 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at VII EMS-98. 1678 Cuba earthquake 1678021100001678-02-1114:59 Santiago de Cuba 6.8 VIII 30 km Magnitude estimated at 6.8 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at VIII EMS-98. 1679 Cuba earthquake 1679021100001679-02-11 Santiago de Cuba 1682 Cuba earthquake 1682000000001682 Santiago de Cuba 5.8 VII 30 km Magnitude estimated at 5.8 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at VII EMS-98. 1693 Cuba earthquake 169307000000July 1693 HavanaMilne, 1912: 37 "1,500 houses thrown down" 1757 Cuba earthquake 1757121400001757-12-14 Santiago de CubaMilne, 1912: 44 1766 Cuba earthquake 1766061100001766-06-1105:14 Santiago de CubaCotilla, 2003 7.6 35 km Magnitude estimated at 7.6 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at IX EMS-98. 120 1826 Cuba earthquake 1826091800001826-09-1809:26 Santiago de CubaMilne, 1912: 54 5.8 VII 30 km Magnitude estimated at 5.8 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at VII EMS-98. 1842 Cuba earthquake 1842070700001842-07-07 Santiago de Cuba 6.0 VII 30 km Magnitude estimated at 6.0 ML on the Richter scale, intensity at VII EMS-98. 1852 Cuba earthquake 185209214051852-08-2014:05 UTC Santiago de CubaMilne, 1912: 62 7.2 30 km Intensity estimated at IX EMS-98, with 26 heavy aftershocks. Caused severe damage to churches and other buildings in Santiago de Cuba, as well as landslides in the Sierra Maestra region. Shaking felt in the whole of eastern Cuba, up to the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola.ONE, 2006 1852 Cuba earthquake (November) 1852112608371852-11-2608:37 GMT Santiago de Cuba, Sierra MaestraMilne 1912: 63 7.0 VIII 35 km 1858 Cuba earthquake 1858012800001858-01-2822:04 Santiago de Cuba 6.5 VII 30 km 1880 Cuba earthquake 1880012300001880-01-2304:39 San Cristóbal/Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Río)Milne 1912: 80 6.0 VIII 15 km A series of severe shock waves originating from western Cuba were also felt in the town of Key West (Florida), and included a strong earthquake on 23 January 1880 in San Cristóbal, Pinar del Río at 4 a.m. 1903 Cuba earthquake 1903092200001903-09-2208:09 Santiago de Cuba 5.7 VII 30 km 1906 Cuba earthquake 1906062200001906-06-2207:09 Santiago de Cuba 6.2 VII 30 km 1914 Cuba earthquake 1914022800001914-02-2805:19 Gibara 6.2 VII 32 km 1914 Cuba earthquake 1914122500001914-12-2505:19 Santiago de Cuba 6.7 VII 30 km 1932 Cuba earthquake 1932020306161932-02-03 Santiago de Cuba 6.75 VIII Intensity estimated at VIII EMS-98. 8 – 1500Earthquake in Cuba. 1500 Deaths reported. The Sidney Morning Herald, Feb. 4, 1932. deaths, 300 injured. 80% of buildings in Santiago de Cuba affected., with damage totaling 15 million Pesos. 8 1947 Cuba earthquake 1947080700401947-08-0700:40:20 UTC Santiago de Cuba 6.8 VIII 50 km Magnitude estimated at 6.8 ML and intensity VIII EMS-98. 1992 Cuba earthquake 1992052500001992-05-2516:55:04 UTC Cabo Cruz, Pilón–Manzanillo 6.9 Pierrot et al., 1998 VII 23 km A strong earthquake struck the Cabo Cruz sector, leaving 40 people injured and more than 820 buildings damaged in the Pilon-Manzanillo area. -2020 Caribbean earthquake 2020-01-28 14:10 UTC19.419°N 78.756°W Caribbean Sea7.7 VI 14.9 kmOne house collapsed and more than 300 were damaged. -2024 Cuba earthquake2024-11-1016:49 UTC19.419°N 78.756°WBartolomé Masó, Granma 6.8 VII 14.0 km - -2026 Gulf of Mexico earthquake2026-06-08 18:00:25.689 UTC 22.801°N 85.139°W ± 6.7 km6.1?10.0 km±1.9 - - M = Magnitude on the Richter scale (ML), except where noted Intensity= Intensity on the European macroseismic scale (EMS-98), which is somewhat similar to the Modified Mercalli scale (MM)

See also Geology of Cuba

References

Other sources