Michael Testa
Two die in fireworks blast
Seven men were at the factory when explosion occurred
Relatives of the men who were at the St Sebastian Fireworks Factory rushed on site to see what had become of their loved ones after the blast. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
Two men lost their lives in an explosion that rocked the St Sebastian Fireworks Factory in the limits of Ħandaq, Qormi yesterday evening.
The dead men were named by friends and other fireworks enthusiasts as Damian Agius, who was in his early 20s, and Fredu Stellini, aged around 40, both of Qormi. Their bodies were found at about midnight underneath the concrete roof of the room they were working in.
A Hi-Mac had been brought to the site at about 10 p.m. in an effort to lift the concrete roof.
The explosion, which occurred at about 6.15 p.m., left another two persons slightly injured, while three escaped unhurt.
Smoke was still coming out of the debris hours after the blast, leading to the fear that other fireworks there could explode. Fireworks manufacturers were preparing fireworks for the feast of St Sebastian which is celebrated in the third week of July and for the ground fireworks, as St Sebastian Fireworks factory was one of those listed for the ground fireworks festival in connection with the feast of St Publius in Floriana.
A fireworks manufacturer who was on site said the factory consisted of a number of rooms and the one which exploded was where ground fireworks were being prepared.
Residents in Qormi said they heard two explosions, one very loud and which rocked their homes, and a second smaller one. The explosion was heard from various parts of the island and as far away as Buġibba.
The road from Qormi to Luqa was closed to traffic.
The police said in a statement last night that there were seven persons at the factory at the time of the explosion. One of them, also from Qormi, aged 38, was not in the room that exploded. He was injured when he was thrown to the ground by the blast as he ran away. He was treated for minor injuries at Mater Dei Hospital and released a few hours later.
Another Qormi man, aged 57, was released from the Floriana health centre after he was also treated for slight injuries. The other three men who were unhurt, all from Qormi, are aged 53, 36 and 29.
Sources said that another man, who was extraneous to the explosion, was taken to hospital suffering from severe shock after he heard the blast and realised what had happened. A huge cloud of smoke rose above the factory.
As the situation in regard to who was in the factory at the time of the explosion became clearer, a frantic search started for the two men who were still missing. Medical personal from Mater Dei Hospital arrived in a number of ambulances.
Despite the police appeal to the public not to approach the area, many people ran to the site after the explosion was heard.
There were sad scenes as relatives of the people at the factory started arriving and insisted that the police allow them to get closer to see what had happened to their loved ones. Among the personalities at the scene of the accident last night were President George Abela, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, president of the Malta Labour Party and Fr Joseph Buhagiar who is parish priest at St Sebastian.
The police immediately launched an investigation into the explosion while Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera appointed a team of court experts to draw up reports for the inquiry.
Nearly five years ago in July, Carmelo Cauchi, aged 40 of Qormi, was crushed to death by a metal press, used to make petards that he was cleaning at the same fireworks factory. There were no fireworks at the factory at the time as the town had just celebrated the feast of St Sebastian.
The same factory was involved in a controversy last July when it was blamed for a fire that engulfed the golf club at Marsa, with the club saying it was a petard that caused the fire and destroyed some €200,000 worth of golf clubs and shoes and caused structural damage of an additional €80,000. The factory contested this accusation, saying no petards had fallen on the locker room.
The last fireworks factory explosion took place last October 24 when Mario Farrugia, 26, of Mosta was at a factory in Bidnija. Mr Farrugia sustained burns to 90 per cent of his body and succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later. Two other men from Mosta, who were also inside the factory, were treated in hospital for minor injuries.
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Mark Edward Mifsud
Feb 24th 2010, 13:25
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine :
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
In memoria æterna erit justus,
ab auditione mala non timebit.
God bless the families ! You are all in our prayers!
Mario Zammit
Feb 24th 2010, 10:37
A this time of sorrow is better to remember and pray for the victims instead of doing a crucade on Fireworks.
Everyone has to know things well before speaking and not to hurt anyone in these difficult times for the families.
Its time to act properly and with regulations which make sense:
Not to Ban but to Control
Not to Crack down but to Educate
Not to restrict Firework Factories Extensions but u incentivate them: This will make these premesis more safer
Not to take long time to process pyrotechnicians applications for licenses A and B but to process them more efficiantly so they can get qualified more rapidly.
Education is better than treathening with huge fines
Not to say "dont do that because you get fined" but "dont do that because it will happen that and this...."
Rules dont have to be made Law Makers nor by Law Enforcement Officers but by Experts and by Professionals.
RIP Alfred and Damien
Timothy Cachia
Feb 24th 2010, 09:02
When will the authorities do something about these firework factories!!! They are unsafe and just too many people (who are all still very young) die from such accidents.
Joe Brincat
Feb 23rd 2010, 22:50
I was shocked when I heard the news. Damian Agius, a clerk in the office of Magistrate Dr S. Demicoli, was with me,just a few hours before, placidly giving his courteous assistance to settle a minor problem with a court file. He was always at his place of work, with a simple innocent smile, and loved by all. We used to tease him about Qormi, the football team, the feast of St Sebastian, and the fireworks !! Who would have told us then that fireworks were going to be his doom. Robert Bugeja the deputy registrar was in tears this morning. So were many others in court. God bless his young soul.
John Cutajar
Feb 23rd 2010, 20:10
@Steve Muscat
I would also add the medical team from Mater dei and all doctors, ambulance drivers and nurses that were on site assisting anyone needing medical attention.
Dylan Chircop
Feb 23rd 2010, 18:04
Me and my friends were camping in that valley a few days ago!!!!!!!!! and we were planning another one this week!!!!!!!!! I am shocked !!!!!
ftheuma
Feb 23rd 2010, 18:00
How many more firework factory explosions will it take before the making of fireworks is brought into the 21st century? It is glaringly obvious that methods and procedures used are very wrong. What kind of training are these people getting before they are allowed to handle the high explosives they work with? How aware are they of the chemical characteristics of the material they handle? Enthusiasm and dilettantism rather then sound scientific knowledge seem to be the main driving forces behind firework production in Malta, to the detriment of those involved as we keep witnessing every year. This is unacceptable.
Steve Muscat
Feb 23rd 2010, 13:54
A Big Thank You goes to the Rescue Workers on scene namely the CPD, CPD Volunteers, EFRU Volunteers, Police and AFM for the excellent job they performed together, in the least time possible...
Thumbs up boys and girls, keep up the good work!!!
K Micallef
Feb 23rd 2010, 12:55
In this sad time indeed, which is far from being the first fireworks-related tragedy, the obvious question is: are these premises designed to withstand the pressures of a blast load, such as this? Are the walls and concrete roofs detailed such that there is no disproportionate collapse in the event of explosions? Building technology which might be adequate to a farming shed is surely not suitable for extreme blast loads. The authorities should assess existing facilities and ensure they are adequately designed to prevent such tragedies from occurring on a regular basis. God rest their souls.
J Oatmon
Feb 23rd 2010, 10:54
Every year more 'fireworks enthusiasts' are killed in explosions - what can we understand from this fact:
1. Safety is not good enough at these places.
2. Proper 'safety compliance' inspections are needed by the AFM.
3. No one under 25 should be permitted at these places.
4. This dangerous activity needs a proper annual license for the fireworks factories, and licenses for all the personnel who are at the factories.
5. Heavy fines for breaching the regulations, tripled if there is loss of life.
6. An online listing of all factories and those licensed to work in each factory.
7. No unsafe launch areas
8. No petards.