The Malta Independent on Sunday
Three injured, four unhurt in Salini fireworks factory explosion
Rebecca Iversen Two men and a woman were injured in an explosion in a fireworks factory in the Salini area near the bird park yesterday afternoon. Another four people escaped uninjured.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated, the police said in a statement.
The explosion took place at the factory run by San Ġwann's Għaqda Piroteknika 11 ta' Frar, a fireworks group colloquially known as Ta' Lourdes.
The two injured men, aged 25 and 36, residents of Dingli and Mosta, and the woman, 29 from Mosta, were taken to hospital for treatment.
The 36-year-old, according to the police, suffered serious injuries. Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia, who was among the first on site, told The Malta Independent on Sunday that one of the two injured men suffered burns, while the other also has serious injuries.
AFM, CPD and police officials, as well as the bomb disposal unit went on site, known as the Tal- Qadi, limits of Naxxar, to tend to the injured and start the investigation.
Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia is leading an inquiry.
Residents in Pembroke, San Gwann, Għargħur and Naxxar all reported hearing blasts at around 3.15pm; a large plume of white smoke was seen rising to the sky and could be seen from various areas around Malta.
Soon after the explosion, several people g gathered on site to check on their relatives.
At 4.25 pm, a small fire was still blazing.
President of the 11 February Pyrotechnics Society Frans Xuereb said the fireworks factory has all the necessary licences.
PN MP Kristy Debono appealed for safety to be a top priority and that safety measures should always be implemented.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport Clifton Grima and MP Claudette Buttigieg were also on site.