The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has launched a full-scale investigation after residents across Freetown reported feeling earth tremors on Tuesday afternoon, following two powerful earthquakes recorded deep in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the NDMA, reports started flooding in at about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 13th October, with workers and residents saying their buildings shook, desks vibrated and walls rattled.
The agency said it immediately contacted the Sierra Leone Institution of Geoscientists (SLIG) to assess the incident.
Preliminary checks with international seismic monitors confirmed significant activity along the Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge, more than 1,100 kilometres southwest of Freetown.
– The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at 5:44 a.m. GMT at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was about 1,180 km southwest of Freetown.
– A second, even stronger quake – measured at magnitude 6.8 by the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NOAA) and up to 6.9 by other agencies – struck at 12:23 p.m. GMT, just minutes before the tremors were felt in Freetown.
Both quakes occurred along the vast underwater mountain chain where the African and South American tectonic plates slowly pull apart – a zone where large quakes are not uncommon but rarely affect distant coasts.
The NDMA says while the timing of the second quake closely matches the reports from Freetown, further scientific analysis is needed before a direct link can be confirmed.
Sierra Leone sits far from major earthquake fault lines and has very low seismic activity. Experts note, however, that powerful offshore quakes can sometimes generate weak tremors felt over long distances, especially in high-rise buildings and quiet indoor environments.
To handle the probe, the NDMA, SLIG and the Ministry of Works and Public Assets have set up a Technical Working Group to determine the exact cause and advise on safety measures.
On Tuesday, a joint assessment team visited several locations where official reports were made:
– Africell Head Office, Wilberforce
– Youyi Building
– Commercial building on Siaka Stevens Street housing the Independent Media Commission and Aureol Insurance Company
– Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs
According to the initial assessment, no major structural damage, significant property destruction or fatalities were recorded at any of the inspected locations.
The agency noted that other residents also felt tremors in their homes, but assessment was limited to places where formal reports were received.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System confirmed there was no tsunami threat to the U.S. Atlantic coast from the quakes, and no tsunami warning was issued for Sierra Leone.
The NDMA has urged residents to remain calm, rely only on verified information from official sources, and avoid sharing unverified claims on social media.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any damage, cracks, or further shaking through the agency’s toll-free emergency line 1199.
The agency says it will continue consultations with national and international geoscience experts and will issue further updates as more scientific evidence becomes available.
