A husband and wife and a 27-year-old man lost their lives in a massive fireworks factory explosion near Gharb in Gozo at about 6.10 p.m on Sunday.

Another man is missing and feared dead while two men aged 32 and 35, are in intensive care at Mater Dei Hospital, having been airlifted by AFM helicopter.

People near the area said they heard three powerful blasts from the factory, located is an isolated valley near Gharb. A mushroom-shaped cloud formed over the scene and debris was scattered over a wide area. A number of cars were destroyed. Windows at some residences near Gharb were shattered.

Policemen and Civil Protection Department rescuers arrrived within a short time and started the search for possible survivors. The search continues on Monday morning.

The victims were all from the same family.

The police said the dead were Noel Farrugia, 31 and his wife Antoinette, 21 of Fontana and 27-year-old Jean Pierre Azzopardi of Zebbug.

Noel's father Ninu is missing.

The two injured men are also related to Ninu. They are his son Ray and his son-in-law Pawlu.

The fireworks were being prepared for the feast of Our Lady of Victories being celebrated in Xaghra on Wednesday. It is understood that most of the fireworks had been manufactured in Malta.

Magistrate Paul Coppini is holding an inquiry.

This was the second explosion at the same site in five years. The other blast, in August 2005, took place during the night. No one was killed or injured.

The tragedy at Gharb is the worst in a bitter year for fireworks enthusiasts. A man died in an explosion at the August 15 fireworks factory in Dwejra, Mosta on August 13 and another died last May at St Catherine’s Fireworks Factory in Marsaxlokk.

Two men lost their lives in February at the St Sebastian Fireworks Factory in Qormi and another two escaped unhurt in another explosion at St Bartolomeo Factory in Gharghur in April.

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