The Sierra Leonean government has set up an interagency team to investigate the cause of a fire that damaged parts of the State House in Freetown on Saturday.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who visited the site, announced that an initial report will be made public within a week.
The fire broke out on the fourth floor of the west wing and spread to the third floor, but the presidential office on the second floor remained untouched. President Julius Maada Bio was in Türkiye on an official visit at the time.
The investigative team, comprising law enforcement, engineers, and technical experts from EDSA and other agencies, has been tasked with determining the cause, assessing damage, and recommending steps for rehabilitation.
The vice president will personally oversee daily crisis meetings.
The Ministry of Information earlier confirmed that emergency crews managed to contain the blaze and that essential services were not disrupted.
It remains unclear whether the president will return early from his visit, during which he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to strengthen bilateral ties.
© WAVN