Strong and shallow M6.9 earthquake hits central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 12:23 UTC on October 13, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. According to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat to Caribbean coasts from this earthquake.
Epicenter of M6.9 earthquake in Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on October 13, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 1 004 km (624 miles) NNW of Georgetown (population 538), Ascension Island, Saint Helena, 1 168 km (726 miles) SW of Bonthe (population 10 206), Sierra Leone, and 1 193 km (742 miles) SW of Goderich (population 19 209), Sierra Leone.
Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat to Caribbean coasts from this earthquake, NWS PTWC reported at 12:33 UTC on October 13. No action is required, according to the bulletin.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
This is the second M6+ earthquake in this region today, after M6.7 at 05:44 UTC.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.9 earthquake central Mid-Atlantic Ridge – USGS – October 13, 2026
2 M6.9 earthquake central Mid-Atlantic Ridge – EMSC – October 13, 2026
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