FREETOWN, 13th October 2026 – Ground shaking has been reported in parts of central Freetown this afternoon following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the Atlantic Ocean.
The tremor was felt around 12:23 p.m. today, Tuesday, sending brief panic among residents and workers in the capital.
Witnesses at Youyi Building, Waterloo Street, Wellington Street and Siaka Stevens Street said offices and buildings shook for a few seconds. Some workers rushed out of their buildings, while others inside said they felt their chairs and tables move.
The cause, according to international seismologists, was a strong shallow earthquake that struck deep in the Atlantic.
The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) and US Geological Survey (USGS) say the quake hit at 12:23 p.m. Sierra Leone time at a depth of 10 kilometres along the Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge, about 1,195 kilometres south-southwest of Freetown and 1,161 kilometres from Bonthe.
It was a massive quake – magnitude 6.9 – the second in the same area today after an earlier 6.7 magnitude quake at 05:44 a.m. this morning.
But authorities say there is no cause for panic.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has confirmed there is no tsunami threat to Sierra Leone, West Africa or the Caribbean. The USGS also issued a Green alert, meaning low risk of damage or casualties.
Sierra Leone is far from major earthquake zones and rarely experiences seismic activity, but experts explain that strong offshore quakes can sometimes be felt far away, especially in tall buildings like Youyi Building.
No injuries or damage have been reported so far in Freetown.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has urged residents to remain calm and await official updates.
