Inquiry into building collapse still open

The magisterial inquiry into the collapse of a St Paul's Bay building in which two women died on June 3, 2004 is still open as a court-appointed medical expert has yet to file his report, sources said.

In the meantime, building works on a structure adjacent to the collapsed block is at a very advanced stage.

Three construction workers and a contractor are expected to be arraigned shortly after the inquiry is concluded, the sources said.

The collapse took place while work was in progress to lay the foundations of the new building next door. Work on the foundations was stopped after the collapse but it was allowed to resume shortly afterwards.

Half of the Ramon Perellos Street block, made up of four flats and two underlying garages, collapsed at about 3.15 p.m. on June 3, killing Mary Zarb, a 60-year-old retired teacher and a former St Paul's Bay councillor, and her student, Nadya Vavilova, 24, a Russian interpreter.

Sources said that, rather mysteriously, flowers placed on the spot of the tragedy every month by a person close to the foreign victim disappear soon after they are placed there.

Mrs Zarb's family yesterday held a Mass at St Paul's Bay parish church to mark the first anniversary of her death.

Mrs Zarb and neighbours who lived in the flats adjacent to the plot that was being excavated had complained about the vibrations while excavation works were underway. On the same morning of the incident, foundation works were taking place close to the wall of the building that collapsed.

After the incident, work on the adjacent plot was stopped but the owner had filed an application in court so that work could resume and the application was accepted.

Residents who lived in the flats that collapsed but survived and those who had to seek alternative accommodation because their flats were rendered unsafe argued it was most unfair to see works on the building next door continue without any explanation being given as to what would happen to their property. Charles Farrugia, one of the residents, had moved to a hotel and had to pay Lm155 a month.

Marie Diane Mulè Stagno, Mrs Zarb's daughter, had just left her mother's house after collecting her two-year-old daughter shortly before the flat became a heap of rubble.

Following the collapse of the building, the Building Industry Consultative Council had published a document proposing conditions that were to be adhered to during the excavation of building sites, the demolition of buildings and the laying of dividing walls between buildings belonging to different owners.