Fear in Malta, where on Monday morning a fireworks factory exploded in the Salina-Magħtab area, along Triq il-Qadi, causing widespread damage to nearby properties and shaking homes even kilometers away. A very violent roar at dawn, then a series of smaller explosions and a column of smoke visible from various points of the island.
According to the Maltese police, all people linked to the factory and residents of the area have been traced. No authorized worker would have been inside the site at the time of the explosion. Two men, aged 47 and 67, both residents of St Paul’s Bay, who were working in the nearby fields, were transported to Mater Dei Hospital: they suffered minor injuries and were also treated for shock.
The explosion, which occurred around 6.30 am, hit the area with a strong shock wave. Windows shattered, doors torn off, cars damaged and debris ended up on the streets: several residents reported feeling the house shaking and seeing glass and frames bending under the pressure. In some areas, authorities urged motorists to avoid roads near the factory while safety operations continued.
Of particular concern also concerns the agricultural companies in the area. Some farmers have reported structural damage, dead animals and livestock traumatized by the violence of the blast. The MaYA Foundation, which works to support farmers, has asked the authorities to intervene as soon as the area is declared safe, to assess the damage and assist the affected families.
Police, Civil Protection, Armed Forces and medical personnel intervened on site. A judicial investigation was opened, led by magistrate Joe Mifsud, to ascertain the causes of the explosion. The same factory had already been the scene of a serious accident in May 2018. The explosion then caused serious injuries and one of the men involved died the following day from his injuries.
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