FREETOWN, 14th October 2026 – The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMet) says it is investigating an earthquake in the Atlantic Ocean after tremors were felt in several parts of Sierra Leone on Tuesday, 13th October 2026.
In a public update issued on Wednesday, the Agency said the earthquake was recorded at about 12:23 p.m. Sierra Leone time, with an initial magnitude of 6.9. The epicenter was located beneath the ocean, more than 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Sierra Leone.
Residents in Freetown, Waterloo, Lungi and parts of the North-West and Southern Regions reported feeling brief shaking around midday on Tuesday, prompting concern on social media.
SLMet explained that an undersea earthquake does not automatically trigger a tsunami. According to the Agency, whether a tsunami occurs depends largely on how the quake displaces the ocean floor.
The Agency said it is currently liaising with international monitoring centres, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, to verify the details and assess whether the event poses any potential risk to Sierra Leone.
It assured the public that further updates will be provided as soon as verified information becomes available.
In the meantime, SLMet has urged the public to remain calm and observe basic safety measures. Anyone who experiences further shaking should take cover under a sturdy table or desk, protect their head and neck, and stay away from windows until the shaking stops.
For coastal communities – including Kroo Bay, Tombo, Shenge, Bonthe and other low-lying areas – the Agency advised residents to move inland or to higher ground immediately if they notice the sea suddenly receding or rising unusually, or hear a loud roar from the ocean. They should not wait for an official warning or go to the shoreline to observe.
SLMet stressed that its update does not amount to an evacuation order. Any additional safety instructions, it said, will be communicated through official government channels.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education also encouraged the public to follow updates only from SLMet and other relevant authorities and to avoid sharing unverified information that could cause unnecessary fear or panic.
While Sierra Leone lies outside major global earthquake zones, minor tremors linked to activity along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge have been recorded in the past.
