Wind tears Mnajdra protective shelter panel

Yesterday's gale force winds tore the smallest panel of the Mnajdra protective shelter, but Heritage Malta said the structure generally withstood its most severe test so far.

It said the shelter was lashed by Force 10 winds registering speeds of over 103 kilometres per hour at Mnajdra The shelter, which is to have 18 panels of various sizes, had five fully installed and tautened panels and these were unscathed by the winds.

The German crew installing the shelter worked throughout the night to safeguard four other panels that were still in the process of being tautened - the stage when they were most vulnerable to damage.

Working in extremely difficult and exposed conditions, they tightened or replaced the temporary straps that were loosened or torn by the wind and managed to limit the damage to the smallest panel which was torn and would need to be replaced.

A thorough inspection of the prehistoric structures was conducted this morning by Heritage Malta staff and it was confirmed that no damage to the temples was sustained.