Shallow M5.6 earthquake hits southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

A magnitude M5.6 earthquake occurred at 13:06 UTC on September 29, 2026, along the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The earthquake was recorded at a shallow depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles) at coordinates 16.2°S, 35.2°W.

The epicenter places this event within the remote southern section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range situated between the continents of South America and Africa. No nearby population centers are located in the immediate vicinity given the oceanic setting.

In this part of the Atlantic, the principal infrastructure is maritime, including shipping lanes that traverse the region. There are no major ports or coastal cities near the epicenter, and land-based infrastructure is not impacted.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity was 0, and the significance index is 482 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent plate boundary between the South American Plate and the African Plate. Earthquakes are relatively common along this ridge due to the extensional tectonic regime as the plates move apart.

This information was last updated at 13:46 UTC on September 29, 2026.