BY NED GAGAHE
A devastating fire, believed to have originated from an electrical fault, has razed the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) office, destroying critical documents and casting serious doubt over preparations for the 2028 National General Elections.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Wednesday morning, this week and is believed to have started in the Commission’s secured data room, a highly restricted area used to store priority election materials and records.
According to initial reports, the fire may have been triggered by a malfunctioning switchboard that short-circuited when electricity was restored following a blackout on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking to the Island Sun on Wednesday morning, SIEC’s Corporate Services Manager Francis Iro confirmed that all staff had vacated the premises by Tuesday evening, after a power outage around 3pm.
“Electricity was restored after midnight, and sometime around 1am, we believe the switchboard in the data room short-circuited, which likely started the fire,” Mr Iro said.
Iro described the data room as highly secure, noting it had no windows and only one exit door.
“The fire was initially contained within the room. But by morning, smoke began to escape. That’s when people noticed and called the fire service,” he said.
However, delays in the fire response proved costly.
“Firefighters took almost two hours to prepare upon arrival.
“By that time, strong winds had already intensified the flames. It was too dangerous for anyone to enter the building,” Iro said.
Loss of Critical Election Data
“Everything is gone.
“All the important documents, our 2028 election preparations, some of the most important materials are now lost in the fire.” Iro said solemnly.
The loss is not only structural but potentially crippling to national planning.
It remains unclear if any backup data exists. Iro could not confirm if offsite backups were in place.
“We hope and pray that somewhere, somehow, data might have been preserved. But at this moment, nothing has been saved from the building,” he added.
He confirmed that the Chief Electoral Officer was in Auki at the time of the fire.
When Island Sun arrived on the scene, firefighters and onlookers were seen attempting to retrieve any salvageable materials from the smoke-engulfed building — but with little success.
Moments later, red flames burst through the windows, fully consuming the office, making any further recovery efforts impossible.
The RSIPF Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received the first call after 6am and responded immediately. However, the fire had already spread rapidly through parts of the building.
An initial assessment suggests the fire was caused by an electrical fault, but investigations are still ongoing to determine the precise cause.
“When I assessed the scene, I anticipated escalation, so we requested additional support,” Supervising Director of the Fire Rescue Service, James Ketaru told SIBC news.
“We conducted a fire investigation, but the final report is still pending. However, initial findings indicate an electrical fire,” the RSIPF Fire Service stated.
The RSIPF Fire Service has since urged the public to exercise caution with electricity in homes and offices.
“Always switch off power points and electrical equipment when not in use.
“In any fire emergency, contact the Fire Service immediately on 24476,” they advised.
As the country now grapples with the impact of this loss, questions remain about electoral preparedness and the future of national data security.
The full extent of the damage and its implications for the 2028 National General Elections is yet to be fully assessed.
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