Two elderly sisters injured in Poland

Two elderly Maltese sisters were hospitalised in Cracow on Tuesday after they were hit by a tram in the Polish city, Krystyna Mikulanka, honorary consul for Malta in Poland, said yesterday.

Speaking to The Times over the phone, Ms Mikulanka said Carmen Deguara, 72, and Maria Azzopardi, 69, of Rabat were hit by a tram as they were crossing one of city streets during the last day of their tour.

Ms Deguara suffered nine broken ribs and a broken pelvis and Ms Azzopardi suffered injuries to her head and brain and is being kept in the ITU until she is operated on.

The two sisters were rushed to two different hospitals in two ambulances because of the nature of their injuries.

The tour organised by Mondial Holidays included a visit to the shrine of the Black Madonna in Czestochowka.

When contacted, Martin Degiorgio, Mondial's managing director, said his firm was in constant contact with their agents in Poland monitoring the situation of the two sisters.

"Our insurers, Gasan and Mamo, have made arrangements to have relatives of the two sisters travel to Cracow today to be close to their loved ones.

"We will be coordinating this task in order to keep track of the situation," Mr Degiorgio said.

Ms Mikulanka said she had spoken on the phone to Ms Deguara who enquired about her sister and expressed the wish to return to Malta as soon as possible.

"But doctors have told me she would only be able to travel on a stretcher," Ms Mikulanka said.

The Polish consul said she informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malta about the incident.