Storm batters Malta
Part of a wall sheltering an inlet used by fishermen in St Paul’s Bay came crashing down after suffering the brunt of yesterday’s storm. The wall’s structural integrity in the event of such a storm was the subject of a Parliamentary Question earlier this month
Rough seas battered Malta’s coastline yesterday, as police issued warnings to drivers, advising them to avoid coastal areas affected by the rough seas.
The winds were so strong, and the sea so rough that the police urged members of the public to avoid coastal areas and seafronts such as Borg Olivier Street in St Julian’s (Spinola Bay) etc. due to high waves crashing onto land.
The Radisson hotel in St Julian’s was flooded the night before as a result of the storm which hit the Maltese islands.
In a statement, the hotel said it sustained some damage as a result of the strong North East winds that hit the Maltese Islands in the early hours of the morning.
“The main areas affected by the heavy waves where the hotel’s Grand Ballroom, the Kontiki Restaurant, the Marion Mizzi Spa and the indoor pool and gym areas. These areas have now been closed off and repairs are scheduled to commence immediately effect.”
Despite this setback the hotel served breakfast to its guests while other public areas continue to operate as usual.
Adrian Attard, Radisson Blu Resort, St Julian’s General Manager, explained “We are working around the setbacks that this storm has caused and continue to welcome guests with our usual service delivery.“
The police and the Civil Protection Department received reports from all over the island about trees and electricity poles that were destroyed and water tank covers that were blown off.
In Xemxija, debris on the road brought in by huge waves made driving there difficult, while parts of the Coast Road have also been flooded by the raging waves.
Boats at Portomaso were also caked in fish slime brought in by the waves. The south-bound carriageway of the Coast Road was also affected by fish slime which an eye-witness described as looking like huge snow-flakes flying through the air. This will most definitely fire up the debate on local fish farms once more.
The wall sheltering an inlet in St Paul’s Bay came crashing down yesterday due to rough seas. The area is used by fishermen, who have questioned its structural integrity.
Earlier this month, PN MP Censu Galea had posed a Parliamentary Question about this very site, expressing the fishermen’s concern that the wall was damaged. He asked Environment Minister Jose Herrera: “The fishermen who use the inlet in St Paul’s Bay are worried, as the very same inlet could end up without any guard after a storm since the wall that separates the inlet from the sea is damaged. Can the minister explain whether fisheries inspectors have inspected this site, and if not can the minister take the necessary steps to ensure such an inspection occurs?”
In response, the minister said: “On this question, I tasked the Fisheries and Agricultural Department to coordinate with Transport Malta, which is responsible for maritime infrastructure”.