Credit: SierraEye Magazine
Freetown, 13th October 2026 — Residents and workers in parts of central Freetown have reported feeling a mild earth tremor on Tuesday afternoon following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck deep in the Atlantic Ocean along the Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Witnesses in the Waterloo Street and Wellington Street areas said the brief shaking was noticeable enough to draw attention from people in offices and nearby buildings, prompting some residents to alert others to remain vigilant.
According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), the earthquake occurred at approximately 12:23 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 1,195 kilometres south-southwest of Freetown and roughly 1,161 kilometres south-southwest of Bonthe.
Despite its strength, the earthquake posed little immediate threat to Sierra Leone. Authorities issued no tsunami warnings, and there were no reports of injuries, casualties or damage to buildings in Freetown or elsewhere in the country.
The quake occurred in a remote section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a vast underwater mountain chain where the African and South American tectonic plates gradually drift apart. Scientists note that earthquakes of this magnitude are not uncommon in the region and rarely result in significant impacts on distant coastal nations.
Although Sierra Leone is located far from major earthquake zones and experiences very low levels of seismic activity, experts say powerful offshore earthquakes can occasionally generate weak tremors that are felt over long distances, particularly in high-rise buildings and quiet indoor environments.
Tuesday’s incident nevertheless sparked concern among some residents, many of whom are unaccustomed to experiencing any form of ground movement.
No official reports of damage had been received as of Tuesday evening, and conditions across the country remained normal.
