M6.9 Earthquake Strikes Central Mid Atlantic Ridge

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean on October 13, 2026, at 12:23 UTC, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The shallow earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km, north-northwest of Ascension Island, while authorities reported no tsunami threat to Caribbean coasts.

The USGS and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) recorded the same magnitude and depth. The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses, indicating a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

The National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) confirmed that the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to Caribbean coastlines. Its bulletin, issued at 12:33 UTC on October 13, stated that no action was required.

The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 1,004 km (624 miles) north-northwest of Georgetown, Ascension Island, which has a population of 538, according to the earthquake report published by watchers.news. It was also located 1,168 km (726 miles) southwest of Bonthe, Sierra Leone, and 1,193 km (742 miles) southwest of Goderich, Sierra Leone.

The reported distances place the epicenter far offshore in the central Atlantic. The USGS assessment indicated a low probability of significant casualties or economic damage despite the earthquake's magnitude.

The October 13 event was the second earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater recorded in the region that day, according to watchers.news. An earlier magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred at 05:44 UTC, several hours before the magnitude 6.9 event.

Separately, Armenia's Armenpress reported the earthquake, citing Interfax and the Altai-Sayan branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences. That service placed the epicenter approximately 990 km north of Ascension Island and described the shaking intensity at the epicenter as destructive.

The Russian scientific service's account also identified October 13 as the date of the earthquake, while the USGS independently reported a depth of 10 km. The available reports did not identify confirmed casualties or specific damage resulting from the event.