Three carnival floats were damaged beyond repair by the strong winds that blew across the island on Thursday night.

When contacted, National Folklore Commission chairman Alfred Chetcuti said that up to four floats had been damaged and three of them were not in a condition to take part in the defilé.

Those at St Elmo, in Valletta were the worst hit, despite a number of precautions including plastic wrapped around the floats and containers used to shield them from the wind.

According to the Met. Office, winds reached gale force eight during the night.

Apart from King Carnival, 22 floats were meant to have taken part in the defilé this year, now down to 19.

Mr Chetcuti said the commission would subsidise the costs incurred on the three damaged floats.

The annual carnival celebrations kicked off in Valletta yesterday evening with a dancing competition and a defilé led by King Carnival.

The celebrations will continue today, subject to the weather, with a spectacle at Freedom Square and a defilé of floats and grotesque masks.

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