A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Indian Ocean near Port Mathurin on Tuesday 6 January 2026, at 2:09pm local time.
The quake occurred near Rodrigues. Authorities in Seychelles say it does not pose a risk to the country.
The Principal Secretary for the Department of Disaster Risk Management, Daniel Cetoupe, said there was no cause for concern.
“Tremors that take place under the sea happen frequently. They occur around the world,” he said.
Mr Cetoupe said international monitoring agencies and the Seychelles Meteorological Services Authority are tracking seismic activity. He said these bodies receive all relevant data, including information linked to potential tsunamis.
He explained that no alerts followed the earthquake in Mauritius. As a result, authorities do not consider it a danger to Seychelles.
“No notifications were issued. Therefore, it is not being considered a risk for Seychelles,” he said.
Mr Cetoupe added that the country remains on alert at all times. However, he said there was no need to alarm the public when no threat exists.
“There is no necessity to make a fuss or to rattle people through notifications,” he said.
He stressed that the Department of Disaster Risk Management remains prepared for any emergency. He referred to lessons learned from the 2004 tsunami.
“Based on that experience, we now have a plan that addresses such events in a systematic way,” he said. “This work is continuous and never ends.”
Mr Cetoupe said Seychelles has systems in place to warn the public if an earthquake triggers a tsunami.
“If an alert has not been issued, there is no need for the public to be worried,” he said. “It is still important for people to stay informed.”
He added that, even if a warning were issued, the country would have sufficient time to evacuate and deploy responders.
“Our priority is always to protect lives and infrastructure,” he said.
He concluded that the recent earthquake in the region does not pose a risk to Seychelles.