Magnitude 6.7 earthquake — central Mid-Atlantic Ridge

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The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a vast underwater mountain range running down the centre of the Atlantic Ocean for roughly 16,000 kilometres. It marks the boundary where two of the Earth's tectonic plates are continuously pulling apart from one another, with new oceanic crust forming as the plates separate.

Earthquakes are common along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge because the constant movement of these plates creates stress that is periodically released through tremors. The ridge is one of the most seismically active regions on Earth, though most earthquakes occur far beneath the ocean surface where they pose little direct threat to populated areas or coastal communities.

Whilst earthquakes of this magnitude can be significant from a scientific perspective, their remote location in the middle of the ocean means they rarely cause damage or loss of life. Understanding seismic activity along ridges like this helps scientists better comprehend how the Earth's interior works and how the continents continue to move.