Shallow M6.6 earthquake hits central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 18:56 UTC on June 17, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Epicenter of M6.6 earthquake in central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on June 17, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 1 031 km (640 miles) NW of Georgetown (population 538), Ascension, Saint Helena, and 1 222 km (760 miles) SW of Bonthe (population 10 206), Sierra Leone.
Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
The earthquake occurred along the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a major divergent plate boundary where the South American and African plates move apart, generating frequent earthquakes associated with seafloor spreading.
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.6 earthquake central Mid-Atlantic Ridge – USGS – June 17, 2026
2 M6.6 earthquake central Mid-Atlantic Ridge – EMSC – June 17, 2026
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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Great information to pass along. Keep up the good work.