Cuba authorities debunk false earthquake alert that caused widespread panic

A false earthquake alert sent waves of panic across multiple Cuban provinces on Tuesday afternoon. Around 3:00 PM, thousands of Android users received urgent notifications advising them to seek shelter, causing many residents to flee their homes and workplaces in fear of an imminent tremor.

Dr. Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of investigations at the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS), and the Cuban Civil Defense officially debunked the alert, characterizing it as “totally false.” Authorities confirmed that the national seismological network detected no significant tectonic movements or earthquake swarms during the period.

The incident is believed to have been triggered by Google’s Android earthquake alert system, which uses smartphone accelerometers to detect vibrations. Experts suggest the system may have misidentified local movements or been influenced by recent seismic activity in neighboring Colombia and Venezuela. While the system is designed for rapid warning, this event highlights the potential for automated algorithms to cause widespread public confusion without official verification.