# M4.6 Earthquake Strikes Carlsberg Ridge

Central Indian Ocean — A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck beneath the open waters of the Indian Ocean on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

What happened: The quake hit along the Carlsberg Ridge — an undersea mountain range in the central Indian Ocean where the earth's tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart — at 9:30 a.m. Central time on Sunday, October 18. The USGS places the epicenter at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 6 miles below the ocean floor. The Carlsberg Ridge runs through deep, open ocean, far from any coastline.

Impacts: No shaking was felt on land, and no damage has been reported. With the epicenter sitting in the middle of the ocean, hundreds of miles from the nearest major landmasses, this quake posed no threat to people on shore. The USGS says no tsunami is expected from a quake of this size and location.

What to do:

- No action is needed for this quake — it was too small and too far offshore to affect anyone on land.

- If you ever feel strong shaking near a coast, move to higher ground right away and listen for tsunami warnings.

- After any earthquake, check your surroundings for hazards like gas leaks or cracked walls, and expect aftershocks.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 18, 2026.