6.7 quake hits Mid-Atlantic Ridge, followed by a 6.9 the same day
The USGS recorded a magnitude 6.7 earthquake on the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on 13 October 2026. The Daily Mail reports a stronger 6.9 quake followed hours later, and carries one geophysicist's contested view that the quakes are part of a wider chain.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on Tuesday 13 October 2026, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The Times of IndiaN “A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on Tuesday at 11:14 am IST, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).” Read at The Times of India ↗ Daily MailR “A magnitude 6.7 quake struck less than seven hours earlier at 1.44am” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The Times of India gave the time as 11:14 am IST and the depth as 10 km; the Daily Mail gave 1:44 am US Eastern time, which is the same moment. The Times of IndiaN “The earthquake took place at a depth of 10 km.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Daily MailR “A magnitude 6.7 quake struck less than seven hours earlier at 1.44am” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail reports that the USGS detected a second, stronger quake of magnitude 6.9 at 8:23 am ET, about 50 miles north of the first along the same seafloor fault, between Africa and South America. Daily MailR “The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected a magnitude 6.9 earthquake along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Africa and South America at 8.23am ET.”“just 50 miles north along the same seafloor fault line where the bottom of the ocean is slowly splitting apart.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail says the pair set off tsunami monitoring stations along the US East Coast. Its article does not report any damage or casualties. Daily MailR “setting off tsunami monitoring stations along the US East Coast and sparking fears of a larger seismic trend.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1The Times of India's short report places the Atlantic quake in a day of other seismic activity. It notes that a magnitude 6.1 quake struck Panama earlier that day at 4:50:37 am IST, according to India's National Centre for Seismology, at 10 km depth. The Times of IndiaN “Earlier in the day, an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck Panama at 4:50:37 am IST, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).” Read at The Times of India ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail quotes geophysicist Stefan Burns, a YouTube commentator on earthquake science, saying the two quakes form a 'doublet' that is part of a 'chain reaction' of stress moving from the Caribbean plate to the South American and African plates, with the North American plate next. Daily MailR “the double earthquake was not only historic in size, but is likely part of a seismic 'chain reaction' taking place this year”“with the North American plate being next.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1According to the Daily Mail, Burns said the quakes were among the strongest on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 50 years, with the 6.9 the third strongest since 1976. Burns said anything close to magnitude 7.0 on a mid-ocean ridge is 'incredible'. Daily MailR “Tuesday's earthquakes in the Atlantic were among the strongest to hit the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the last 50 years, with the 6.9 quake registering as the third strongest since 1976.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The article gives context for this view. It lists 2026 quakes in Colombia (magnitude 7.4 on 10 August), Venezuela (7.2 and 7.5) and Panama (7.7 on 9 October), and a magnitude 7.6 quake near the Cayman Islands in February 2025. It also cites a Nature study that found large quakes can trigger activity thousands of miles away. Daily MailR “the magnitude 7.4 disaster in the city of San José del Palmar on August 10, 2026.”“October 9’s magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Panama”“A study published in the journal Nature showed that powerful earthquakes can trigger seismic activity thousands of miles away.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail notes that USGS scientists argue quakes cannot be predicted well in advance. It also reports that Burns says the sun plays a major role in causing earthquakes, and that on 10 October Burns predicted a solar impact would set off a major quake within one to three days of the Atlantic doublet. Daily MailR “Although USGS scientists have argued that geological events like earthquakes cannot be predicted well in advance”“Burns also theorized that the sun plays a major role in causing earthquakes.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A brief factual item on the 6.7 quake, sourced to the USGS, set alongside a Panama tremor the same day.
- Emphasis
- Time, depth and magnitude; the Panama quake's coordinates.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 6.9 quake, tsunami monitoring or any wider pattern.
- For example
-
“Earlier in the day, an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck Panama at 4:50:37 am IST, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).” — The Times of India
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A speculative piece that treats the quakes as 'historic' and leads with one geophysicist's warning of a 'chain reaction' that could reach the US.
- Emphasis
- Burns's predictions and track record, the 6.9 quake, tsunami monitors, and a possible link to California.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Offers no USGS or other independent seismologist view on the chain-reaction claim beyond a general note that quakes cannot be predicted well in advance; gives no damage reports.
- Charged language
- “Historic earthquakes”“chain reaction”“fears”
- For example
-
“Historic earthquakes strike Atlantic as expert raises fears of seismic 'chain reaction'” — Daily Mail
“Burns, who accurately predicted multiple earthquakes months in advance this year” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- The USGS recorded a magnitude 6.7 earthquake on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge on 13 October 2026.
- Both outlets mention seismic activity in Panama.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the Atlantic quakes signal a wider seismic chain affecting the US
- Centre
- The Times of India reports no such link and gives only the quake's time, depth and the earlier Panama tremor.
- Right
- The Daily Mail presents Burns's 'chain reaction' theory, while noting that USGS scientists say quakes cannot be predicted well in advance.
U.S. Geological Survey organisation
The USGS is the source of the magnitude, time and depth figures in both articles. The Daily Mail says its scientists argue quakes cannot be predicted well in advance.
“according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS)” — The Times of India
“Although USGS scientists have argued that geological events like earthquakes cannot be predicted well in advance” — Daily Mail
Mid-Atlantic Ridge place
The ridge is described as a seafloor fault where the ocean bottom is slowly splitting apart. The Daily Mail says quakes near magnitude 7.0 are rare there.
“'Generally, anything close to magnitude 7.0 on a mid-ocean ridge is incredible,' he said.” — Daily Mail
South Asia1 outlet
Brief wire-style item that uses India's National Centre for Seismology for the Panama quake and gives times in IST.
“according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS)” — The Times of India
The Times of India
UK and Ireland1 outlet
Focuses on the implications for the US East Coast and California, with US times and units.
“setting off tsunami monitoring stations along the US East Coast” — Daily Mail
Daily Mail
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
-
6.7 magnitude earthquake hits central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Neutral Terse report of the quake's magnitude, time and depth, with the same day's Panama tremor.
Right1 article
-
Historic earthquakes strike Atlantic as expert raises fears of seismic 'chain reaction'
Alarmist Frames the quakes as historic and part of a chain moving toward the US, relying mainly on one commentator's predictions.
- 13 Oct 08:10 First The Times of IndiaN 6.7 magnitude earthquake hits central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- 13 Oct 18:34 +10h 24m Daily MailR Historic earthquakes strike Atlantic as expert raises fears of seismic 'chain reaction'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…