Powerful Earthquake Near Jamaica Shakes Buildings In Miami

MIAMI, FL — The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that a powerful earthquake between Cuba and Jamaica at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday impacted the Miami area, causing some buildings to shake.

According to the USGS, the 7.7 magnitude earthquake was reported about 77 miles north-northwest of Lucea, Jamaica. It was a shallow quake — about 6 miles below the surface of the ocean.

Miami-Dade Police received a barrage of phone calls about buildings shaking, and some buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

Police said the 28-story Stephen P. Clark Government Center, at 111 NW 1st St. in downtown Miami, was evacuated.

Police also responded to the Datran Center in downtown Dadeland just after 2:30 p.m. to investigate reports of the building shaking. It was evacuated as well.

Miami police tweeted that some buildings in the Brickell area were evacuated, but there were no reported injuries.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the emergency management center is closely monitoring the situation.

Residents in Boca Raton, Adventura and Bonita Springs commented on the USGS Twitter feed that the tremors extended to those areas as well.

"With reports of shaking being felt in Downtown Miami and Brickell after a reported 7.7 magnitude earthquake between Cuba and Jamaica, the City of Miami is closely monitoring for any developments or updates," Suarez said.

In the meantime, crowds of Miami business people gathered on the sidewalks around their high-rise workplaces, waiting for the OK to return to work in the buildings that were evacuated.