Update 10: Three dead, two injured, one missing in Gozo fireworks factory blast

Joseph Galea

Sep 7th 2010, 21:37

I will suggest the best 2 options to our government.

Option 1- Move all licensed firework factories to kemmuna. If one of them blows up ,no other civilians will be hurt. If I am not wrong ,Kemmuna used to be a target practice by the English army. So there will be no ecological impact in case of an explosion.

Option 2 - Issue tenders to foreign fireworks contractors and ban all local manufacture.

Adriana Zahra

Sep 7th 2010, 16:36

PAGANIZMU TOTALI go dal pajjiz ara il-Madonna jew xi qaddies iehor iridx li joqodu jaharqu dawk il-murtali kollha tal-festa jezzu Malta !!! Certi irhula idumu jaharqu kaxxa tal-hrug u tad-dhul 20 minuta jew aktar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hela ta flus u storbju li jdejjaq lil min ma jhobbx dan id -dellizzju bla sens Bum Bum u daqs hekk u nbad xi nghidu ghall vittmi u il-familji taghhom li jhallu warajhom ,ahjar il-flus li tonfqu ittuhom Karita ghax tkunu qedin taghmlu gid lil xi hadd u il-Madonna u il-Qaddis tar-rahal ittuh aktar pjacir b'emilkom!!!!!!!!! jew ahna insara tal kelma !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PAGANIZMU

marthese gauci

Sep 7th 2010, 07:35

Can someone tell me how fireworks which are prepared in Malta transported to Gozo!

Maria Brincat

Sep 6th 2010, 23:13

It is truly sad when something like this happens, especially in a year that has been marked by these tragedies. we've seen too many this year. But, instead of pushing to eliminate fireworks from our festi, why don't we try to see what's going wrong and try to find solutions? Could it be that some of the chemicals used in the fireworks - which are imported - are somehow damaged and therefore exploding more easily. With one firework factory exploding, you could call it human error or even carelessness, but with so many in less than a year it is highly unlikely. if anything, people will be even more careful with so many deaths.
And if the tragedies are occurring during the transport of fireworks, which is supposed to be the least dangerous phase, why don't we seriously consider having some sort of depot where finished fireworks can be stored in cool conditions?
A festa without fireworks is no festa at all. These poor souls who get killed, as well as anyone who makes fireworks are fully aware of the risks they take each time they go to the fireworks factory. Lots of things are dangerous, not just fireworks.

michael scott

Sep 6th 2010, 13:00

Over the years i have commented sadly on these tradgedys and my uppermost thoughts and prayers have always been for the families of those involved.I am utterly at a loss to understand why so many people lose their lives in these incidents.Why are these factories allowed to continue?,why is NOTHING done it seems to improve safety procedures within?,Why do you rarely hear a politician speak on these matters and vow to eradicate this huge problem?.Would it not be wise to allow safety experts in from other countries experienced in firework producement?.One thing i can never understand on the island that i love is the fascination with fireworks and the money spent on them.

mariella busuttil

Sep 6th 2010, 07:54

I do strongly beleive, you are right with your comments, and totally agree with both of you (P.Borg,C.cachia) and others who have the same opinion, and I think its time to think so deeply about all those victims and something has to be done.As you said ,feasts can be done without fireworks.It hurts so much to have victims from your family who are taken away in such horrible accidents!May God be with the victims relatives in those sad moments.

Alexander G Farrugia

Sep 6th 2010, 07:32

Ever heard of the Seveso II Directive? Probably no...since the only Directives which seem to concern the local interest are those involving feathered creatures!
More lately the EU set up other regulations regarding firework sale (DIRECTIVE 2007/23/EC), but probably, as a report confirms, we managed to defend our traditions....
"Malta in principle supports the Directive, but has requested exemptions for hand made fireworks used at religious festivals and which are not sold on to consumers. The Commission should be prepared to discuss this issue during the meetings in the Council working group following the adoption of the draft proposal." (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/files/doc/pyro_impact_assess_en.pdf), and in fact the mentioned Directive states that: "(8)...In view of religious, cultural and traditional festivities in the Member States, fireworks built by the manufacturer for
his own use and which have been approved by a Member State for use on its territory should not be considered as having been placed on the market and should not therefore
need to comply with this Directive."
Well done to our bureaucrats!

marcelle borg

Sep 6th 2010, 07:24

I love festi and fireworks, even though i'm not involved. But it gives me satisfication seeing the talents and dedication of these people. It's very sad to hear such news just a few weeks after mosta's explosion. However i do not think it is appropriate to blame the church or the government! I am sure that if some form of legal action is taken to stop these fireworks, the talented workers would be the first poeple not to accept!! This is their passion! They would literally die to work on fireworks! They do not want regulations! They just lvove showing their work.....and lets face it....they do gather large crowds in festas! Its their hobby, their passion. Rockclimbing is dangerous, and so is absailing! They are dangerous too.

P. Borg

Sep 6th 2010, 07:06

While I express my deepest sympathy towards the victims and their families, I still would like to stress out an important point. It is time that fireworks are abolished or drastically reduced. How many more lives are going to be lost in this so called hobby?
To all those that I am sure will comment on my remarks I just would like to highlight something. This year only we have already lost I think about ten people, let alone in the past years. If you look at all cases, this has not happened once or twice but has been happening every month now. Aren't you going to look at the real facts? How many more deaths are needed to make you realise how many families fireworks factories have torn apart. How many more children have to loose their dad just because of a so called hobby? The feast can be beautiful even without a life threatening hobby.

chris cachia

Sep 6th 2010, 06:53

Politicians, it's about time you put popularity and votes to the side and act! It's not a matter of stopping feast, it's a matter of saving lives. We are not the only country that produces fireworks but I am sure we are the only one in Europe that accept so many lives lost. Standards must be EXTREMELY poor! ACTION PLEASE! Let's see who are the real politicians who love their country!

Dennis Zammit

Sep 6th 2010, 06:40

During a fireworks licence course I attended years ago, the AFM bomb expert had stated that in Malta, fireworks accidents are never related to transportation except the patrol boat accident.

What has changed this year? Why so close to the feast day when everything is ready?

In the Mosta explosion, one could blame the temperature or else, an unorthodox procedure where large fireworks are reopened on the last days to 'modify' some problems noticed on earlier days.

These are surely not the case in the Gharb explosion. The explosion happened at 6.10 pm and yesterday's temperature was not that high. Further more, most of the fireworks where 'imported' from other fireworks factories and therefore, all readily sealed and marked to be fired.

Therefore, what is common as many former reasons could be unique occasions?

. . . .

Mark Vella

Sep 6th 2010, 06:32

Hellloooooooo ..... Gonzi .... Joseph ..... & Friends ..... wake up! Time to take actions! Ahjar flok il-ministri jmorru fuq il-post jaraw it-tragedja ..... jaraw kif ser isolvu l-problema! Tal-Misthija dal-pajjiz! Biex inparlaw u nippoppaw sidirna tajbin .... fejn tidhol l-ghadma iebsa kullhadd ifarfar! TAKE ACTION NOW ! Condolences to the family!

Dennis Zammit

Sep 6th 2010, 06:17

During a fireworks licence course I attended years ago, the AFM bomb expert had stated that in Malta, fireworks accidents are never related to transportation except the patrol boat accident.

What has changed this year? Why so close to the feast day when everything is ready?

In the Mosta explosion, one could blame the temperature or else, an unorthodox procedure where large fireworks are reopened on the last days to 'modify' some problems noticed on earlier days.

These are surely not the case in the Gharb explosion. The explosion happened at 6.10 pm and yesterday's temperature was not that high. Further more, most of the fireworks where 'imported' from other fireworks factories and therefore, all readily sealed and marked to be fired.

Therefore, what is common as many former reasons could be unique occasions?

. . . .

anthony vella

Sep 6th 2010, 05:21

my condolences to the families.....in 1968, we had we had a fireworks explosion in our village and one person had died in the accident. we had a fireworks explosion the year before that, this time no one was hurt. we had another explosion not too long ago, when two persons, both of them related to me had died. may God help them all in peace. but let me come to the point i would like to make. in the first accident, in 1968, i remember an older man was hired as a fireworks expert, to help sort out the mess we had. some years later, this man was also killed in a fireworks explosion. i cant remember how many people lost their lives in such accidents. i believe that the authorities should 'inspect, investigate...do whatever it takes' to reduce these accidents...when we had very little fireworks we still had our share of accidents, but now we compete and almost encourage the young boys to make more next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
perhaps this is wrong......why not make less fireworks, after all its all the same...may God help those who passed away, the injured and their families. very concerned

Tony Borg (Melbourne)

Sep 6th 2010, 04:36

It is always very sad when there is loss of life. I cannot even imagine how the families and friends of these people feel. I hope that they get all the help they need, both from the community and and the governing bodies.
Obviously there are many fireworks manufacturers around Europe. How do their safety record compare with that of ours? Do they have as many deaths and injuries as we do in Malta per capita of the number of employies in the same industry of course? If not what are we doing differently? This year has been exceptionally bad for Malta and more so for those directly affected by these tragedies, I hope we shall have no more.
I totally agree with those who believe that there should be a ban on fireworks until such time proper investigations are carried out and safety proceedures are implimented; with a responsible body to oversee that these laws are adhered to. If need be bring qualified inspectors from overseas if that works better. It's a human defect, we tend to slacken off and take short cuts. One cannot afford to take short cuts or skacken off the rules with explosive materials.

t. borg

Sep 6th 2010, 04:10

il-kmamar tan-nar ghandhom jispiccaw darba ghal dejjem. povri familji.

L Camilleri

Sep 6th 2010, 03:03

The people of Xaghra feel great sorrow for this tragedy. When news was unfolding and before the full extent of the tragedy was known, the Archpriest called an emergency meeting of the Central Committe of the feast of Maria Bambina and in no time the unanimous decision was reached to cancel fortwith all outdoor celebrations for the rest of the day. This way they wanted to show solidarity with the victims and their families.

Wayne Magri

Sep 6th 2010, 01:57

The government MUST do something about this, and I strongly emphasize about this point, many lives are being lost because of small stupid unprofessional mistakes; I don't know the cause of this explosion but it's always because of unprofessional ism in the field. In my opinion there should be one pyrotechnic factory in Malta, from which all localities could buy the fireworks and pyrotechnics from, with hard rules and laws, not to mention professional people in this field.. 3 explosions in less than a year...:(

Emelia Caruana

Sep 6th 2010, 01:48

THIS is getting very crazy I just wrote recently about one in MALTA something must be done URGENTLY I cant understand the mentality of the MALTESE GOVERNMENT watching all these PEOPLE DYING because of inexperience and just too many fireworks in MALTA.There must be A LAW today to BAN the making of them all over houses in MALTA and GOZO anyone can DIE just walking past . if MR GONZI cant see this he needs to WAKE up Enforce it make it against the LAW its outdated primitive MALTA needs to CHANGE there SPIRITUAL MENTALITY and do SACRED CEREMONIES instead of STATUES and competition men who pay HUGE AMOUNTS of EURO to carry a man made STATUE when the money could be spent helping the maltese people who need help " DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU" not STATUES and FIREWORKS

Aaron Agius

Sep 6th 2010, 01:30

You know what ?

No one mentioned that Hal Ghaxaq won the fireworks festival int Spain....If it's football,tennis or something else only foreworks brought back home an honor and i'm so proud to say that I work fore wprks and i'm 20 years old

C. Farrugia

Sep 6th 2010, 01:15

Please someone, stop this INSANITY!! Why is it happening so often? We don't need fireworks, not if people are dying like flies!!! Condolences ... what a nightmare for this family....

Peter Korsten

Sep 6th 2010, 01:14

So we have eight people killed this year in fireworks explosions, for a festa season that is essentially two months long. How many people get killed in traffic that is all twelve months a year?

Of course, the comparison is not entirely fair, because fireworks are produced throughout the year, and 2010 is probably just a statistical fluke.

But for those involved in the production of fireworks, is the risk really worth it? We've now seen half a family wiped out.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm sensing widening views in the way people perceive fireworks. One the one hand, the 'in' crowd seems to be going for ever louder explosions (I'm already worried about next year's Zebbug festa), but on the other hand, many people seem to be fed up with exactly those loud explosions.

Maybe a return to tradition is in order, with fireworks like they were in the past. Because the more elaborate and loud they get, the more dangerous they become.

Philip Sultana

Sep 6th 2010, 00:45

How many more explosions is it going to take to make us accept our incompetence in handling fireworks? Governement WAKE UP!

Astrid Vella

Sep 6th 2010, 00:35

As always Albert Leone Ganado and David Dandria sum it up with great sense, if only the authorities would heed their words and act!

Unfortunately the fireworks part of village feasts has long been out of the hands of the church and run by fanatical band clubs intent on outdoing rival clubs in terms of firepower and noise created, which has no doubt contributed to some of the excesses leading to these explosions.

These amateur setups are not only putting at risk "the lives of enthusiasts constantly playing with death and those of the civil defense and police officers who have to carry out searches for the victims", but also the lives of members of the public like farmers and walkers in the area at the time.

Not to mention the damage wrought by the 'murtali' (bombs) they create. We all know the stress these outrageous bangs cause to the sick, babies and animals, but for some reason no one has undertaken or published studies about all the toxic chemicals that fireworks release into the air we breathe, or the very real damage caused to our mental and physical health by noise at such levels.

L.Ciappara

Sep 5th 2010, 23:55

Condolences to poor families and RIP to victims. Its a time of grief and sorrow loosing all those lives, but whats a feast without fireworks?

Louis Pace

Sep 5th 2010, 23:40

There must be a way to control this, if one knows exactly what is going on wrong. These last two Firework factories blow up just few days before the festa when I think everything would be ready by that time. I have no clue what goes on in those rooms and what is needed to do these fireworks but if these are not going to be closed (WHICH I THINK IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO SO), there must be a video monitering system from every corner on these rooms to see what is going on, hopefully when this is done we don't hear of other Fairwork Factories blowing up but just in case it happens these would be monitered and find out whats going on.

This could be done easy we talk that we get so much money from EU for this and that, we are not able to do this for these people. If I remember correctly the first thing that was shown when we joined the EU was the FIREWORKS DISPLAY FROM SEA AND LAND. Mind you all I am against fireworks, I hate them.

ANY COMMENTS

Joe M. Anastasi

Sep 5th 2010, 23:27

Always sad to read about loss of life, but in this case thankful that there were no innocent persons unconnected with the fireworks factory involved. As a fireworks enthusiast remarked after last month's tragedy, they all know what the risks are.

Of course government will still do nothing about it. After all, votes are worth more than lives.

Pierre Pizzuto

Sep 5th 2010, 23:04

Whenever there is a fireworks tragedy, it is a disgrace how armchair critics
instead of taking care what to say in such delicate situations, prefer to continue to hurt the families involved with their useless arguments at this point in time. I am sure these are not the Maltese known for their hospitality and friendliness!! These people always want to criticise everyone and everything!!
As a licenced fireworks enthiusiast myself from Mosta who knows the experience from our dear loss of Mario Dimech just three weeks ago, everything is irrelevant at this moment but the lives lost and the injured people. My thoughts go to the families and relatives during this difficult time. We should all remember them in our prayers.

P.Camilleri

Sep 5th 2010, 23:02

And yet another BIG tragedy.......authorities please take immediate action!We can't afford any more lives!

S Saliba

Sep 5th 2010, 22:56

Too much is enough!! Sincere condolences to the victim's families and close friends.
I want an answer to this question:
Are fireworks transported from Gozo to Malta or vice-versa on the Gozo Channel ferries, together with normal passengers?
Another thought of mine. These people who go in the fireworks factories know that they are at great risk. It's not something that they are being forced to do. So in case of an accident .... I really feel more sorry for the ones they leave behind than for themselves, i.e. the victims.
Especially if they leave mother and young children behind.

Mark Vella Bardon

Sep 5th 2010, 22:42

Sincere sympathy to the families of the victims. This carnage must stop.
AND NO! I don't enjoy the spectacle in the sky ... not just because I hate the noise but mainly because my heart bleeds for the relatives of these victims. Each blast must be a dagger in their heart!
Another grave concern I have is regarding the transportation of this murderous material!
Is it carried in special vehicles and escorted by police or armed forces? Some "expert" might illuminate me?

Gerald Fenech

Sep 5th 2010, 22:30

Am in Slovenia but following in earnest. What a tragedy on the sister island....
Prayers go around to all but one has to take action and not lie around twiddling thumbs.
Gerald Fenech in Maribor

Lino Attard

Sep 5th 2010, 22:27

For those who died in this tragedy: God grant them eternal rest; for their families: solidarity and deep sympathies. Other comments are superfluous.

David Dandria

Sep 5th 2010, 22:19

I think the time has come for a 3-5 year moratorium on fireworks production in the Maltese Islands:
1. During this period it is to be ensured that the safety standards of all fireworks factories are upgraded and brought to a state-of-the-art level.
2. Serious training programmes for workers in these factories are organised.
3. Only personnel who have achieved the necessary qualifications through these training programmes will be allowed to work in the factories when production is resumed.
4. Each factory will have to employ a scientist with a degree in chemistry.
5. MSA to set strict standards for raw materials used in fireworks production, and only materials reaching these standards to be imported/used.
6. Transportation of fireworks and explosive material to be properly regulated.
7. Factories to be subjected to frequent inspections (including surprise visits) by competent persons.

My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. I hope that at least some solidarity will be shown by the Xaghra feast organisers. This did not happen when the Santa Maria explosion occurred because (as far as I know - correct me if I'm wrong) the other Santa Maria festas went on as planned, fireworks and all.

S Camilleri

Sep 5th 2010, 22:19

Well said W Bartolo. Please have the decency to show some respect!!

R Abela

Sep 5th 2010, 22:12

I think it's high time that the authorities investigate seriously on what is going on. This year as far as I remember is considered as the worst year record of firefactories explosions. I totally share Melvin Caruana's concerns especially when one considers that both this case and the Mosta case occured few days before the letting off of the already manufactured fireworks - thus these last accidents cannot be attributed to wrong doings in the manufacturing process.
I'm sure the investigative experts should start by investigating the material at the suppliers' end.

Mario Camilleri

Sep 5th 2010, 22:07

To all of you who commented on this tragedy – let us all pray for all those involved in this tragedy, especially the two persons who are critically burnt. Forget the issue of blaming anyone now. These families need our support and prayers.

m farrugia

Sep 5th 2010, 22:06

spluzjoni kull xahar, imma l-aqwa li il-poitakanti taz zewg nahat jidhru fuq il post fir ritratt u l-ghad qisu ma kien xejn

pajjiz tal mickey mouse

M Azzopardi Holland

Sep 5th 2010, 22:05

Complete madness and I do not need to comment much since I tend to agree with most of the messages.

How did the chemicals get to Malta and through to Gozo did you put other peoples lives at risk. Is this what the Archbishop wants?and what the members of parliament want ?

This loss of live is very sad and we should all work hard to convince the authorities that they are not in control of the situation.

We are regulated all over including as noted in other messages in fireworks manufacturing.

Well now the result of your preventive regulations are there for you to see written in red.

Thank you to government that has no control over these dangerous death games.

Elizabeth

Sep 5th 2010, 22:04

possibli ma nistghux xorta niddevertu minghajr periklu? X'hasra ta' hajjiet mitlufa fix-xejn. Hemm bzonn immedjat li ssir xi haga u jinqata' l-loghob ??? tan-nar. Il-hajja tal-bniedem hija izjed prezzjuza ta' dan hekk imsejjah delizzju !!!!!!! Min hu fil-poter ghandu jiehu stand bis-serjeta' fuq din il-haga

R Micallef

Sep 5th 2010, 22:03

L-ewwelnett kondoljanzi lill-familjari, hbieb tal-vittma u l-gzira kollha Ghawdxija. Dizgrazzja ohra xi jgarrab il-poplu!!!

Nixtieq nistaqsi "Fejnha l-Knisja?" M'ghandhiex xi tghid fuq dawn it-tragedji kollha li qed isiru? Mhiex se titkellem u tiehu azzjoni kif ghamlet tant tajjeb f'erti rhula fejn ma kienx hemm qbil? Familji jgarrbu dawn il-martirji kollha u issa mietet anke omm. Hemm bzonn li jittiehdu azzjonijiet urgenti. Ma nixtieqx nara li n- nar fil-festi jintemm nghid id-dritt, izda mhux ghas-spejjez ta' hajjiet.

Rispett!!

Jesmond Micallef

Sep 5th 2010, 22:00

Hope the other two people recover somehow. I am lost for words really.

Joseph Calleja

Sep 5th 2010, 21:49

Our deepest sympathies go to the families. Let us all stop kidding ourselves and stop making excuses for and why these things happen. It is very well known that whoever plays with fire will eventually get burnt, whether it is by accident or negligence. Accidents do happen, even to the best of us. A lot of people enjoy the fireworks but when something like this happens we all seem to shy away. The question is still the same. Is sacrificing all these lives worth it? I say no but then everybody is entitled to his or her opinion. May these people rest in peace and the injured ones find a way to get well. Remember that these brave souls gave up their lives so we can enjoy those fireworks.

Duncan Caruana

Sep 5th 2010, 21:48

And the govt. plans to store all the finished fireworks in one place...i.e.Dingli@Qaws...will he go on with the plans? Purely insane and made in Malta! Let us preserve life and not vice-versa...may god be with these families...

E.Farrugia

Sep 5th 2010, 21:46

First of all condolences goes to all families involved !!! (show some respect with the comments)

In my opinion something is wrong in the material being used with the manufucturing of fireworks ! For sure they have not changed the methods used ........................

To my information there is only two licensed importers of fireworks materials. With material also being imported from china.... Is this material checked and up to standard ???

J.Borg

Sep 5th 2010, 21:46

Whilst sorry for the victims and indeed their relatives, I must air my disappointment at how one fireworks blast after the other are being allowed going on by the authorities. Lives of Maltese citizens are being lost - sometimes even of innocent victims like what happened in Naxxar. I like to see fireworks. I admire those who make fireworks. But I am also able to decide when to say, enough is enough. Both Government and the Church need to do something. If everything remains the same, we will get the same results. Politicians, please stand up and be counted. Maltese citizens are dying. Is this how we ought to celebrate feasts? This sad and unsustainable. We will now get many excuses because of the weather or because of this and that. What matters is that at the end, lives have been lost and we Maltese fellows left with a sad feeling for the victims and their families. Politicians and Church Authorities, you have enough facts to now stop all this fireworks nonsense. May the victims RIP.

Ernest Vella

Sep 5th 2010, 21:45

Min jghid li huma eroj, issa jmur hu jahdem in-nar...kemm ha ndumu nisimghu bi tragedji, kemm ha ndumu ninpikaw....safrattant meta jmut xi hadd u t-tfal jispiccaw iltiema min missier, daqs li kieku ma gara xejn. In-nar sabih kemm trid imma b'dan ir-ritmu daqt tghola Malta.

X'hareg mill-istharrig tal-pulizija? il-materjal li nxtara gie iccekkjat? gie stabilit x'gara f'tal-Mosta? jew imutu n-nies...hafna capcip u dmugh imma wara jumejn nergghu nibdew nigbru ghan-nar!!!!

Dan mhux incident jissejjah, imma omicidju tal-massa...jiddispjacini nghid hekk imma x'tista ssejjahlu....u min qieghed jghajjat bil-martirju ahjar jaghlaq halqu...jaghmel figura ahjar...

Rispett lejnil-vittmi....vittmi ta genn ta nies li baqghu hajjin

Joseph Apap

Sep 5th 2010, 21:39

My sincere and deep condolences to the relatives of the victims.
The authorities should investigate the specification and the quality of the materials being used
Too Many coincidenses

Adrian Said

Sep 5th 2010, 21:37

God be with the victims' families. But I have some questions to ask. These fireworks were going to be transported from Gharb to Xaghra. So these were going to be transported through habited areas. What would happen if such accidents happen in these habited areas while the fireworks are being transported!?!?!?!? On a different note, I'd like to ask about the gas stores that are found in Xewkija and San Lawrenz. Both are near the buildings. The xewkija one is 10metres away from a playing field and 20metres from a school!!!!! WAKE UP AUTHORITIES!!!!

Berti Mercieca

Sep 5th 2010, 21:36

I would like to pose the following question if i may. Is it possible that there is a link amongst all the recent tragedies?
Can it be there is something wrong with the chemicals used?? Excuse my ignorance but i find it hard to believe especially this Year that these explosions are a pure coincidence. There is much more than that and I trust that the authorities will be holding inquiries.

V Battistino

Sep 5th 2010, 21:32

Anyone who tries to 'glorify' death due to this hobby is an accomplice to more disregard for life !

No amount of 'sacrifice' justifies the existence of more widows, orphans and distraught families due to death by 'accidents' involving fireworks.

We really do not care that such accidents happen anywhere else - As if we can ever put peace of mind that we are not the only ones to suffer from such accidents !

I used to like watching the experts' works during our festas, but the surge in lost lives has put me off and I for one refuse to give donations and do not attend fireworks displays during our festas....life is much more precious and definatly not even comparable to the 'sacrifice' .

I strongly recommend a ban for a year on the manufacture and handling of pyrothechincs by which time the authorities would have verified proper techniques, handling, licensing and setup of 'factories' or rather deposits run by amateurs.

And we cannot keep on going with every village having its own kamra tan-nar run by non-professionals .

Spain is going towards banning the killing of bulls and its about time we rethink of our hobbies !

D Vella

Sep 5th 2010, 21:28

About time these factories were closed down. If only Government had the guts to act.

George Debono

Sep 5th 2010, 21:26

As I write this in our flat in Sliema we are being treated to murtali BANGS with compliments from St Gregory's parish, which feast is being celebrated.

These murtali BANGS are bad enough under the best of circumstances (and I still HATE them as 99% of the rest of MAlta's population does) but today we are babysitting an infant granddaughter; it is long past her bed-time but she is crying inconsolably - petrified by this barbaric noise. .............. and our dog is cowering in the toilet.

Why oh why must everybody suffer for the pleasure of a few idiots who love making noise and compete among themselves as to who can make the biggest bang?

Now, nice colourful foreworks without (or less ) noise is something nice, but the Murtali and gigantic bangs are barbaric and probably largely responsible for these deaths as they must consume huge amounts of gunpowder. If these guys died for the sake of these idiotic bangs, then all I can say is - what a stupid thing to die for! What a futile death!

and ....Baby is still crying and the dog is still hiding in the toilet. This is not exactly fun....


G

Sascha Meyer

Sep 5th 2010, 21:24

More photos here:
http://www.demotix.com/news/430912/fireworks-factory-near-gharb-gozo-blows

G Falzon

Sep 5th 2010, 21:22

Issa nwaqqfu il-festa b'rispett lejn il-mejtin. Ahjar inwaqqfu il-festa biex ma jmutux nies!

Joe Xuereb

Sep 5th 2010, 21:21

There's a price to pay for anything hazardous. Be it the professional skier, the Formula 1 racing driver, the deep-sea diver, and so on. God forbid anyone should question the dedication and professionalism of the fireworks enthusiast. If inferior material (gunpowder? what do I know!?) is important, it could get past government officials at importation location but an expert fireworks manufacturer should be able to spot an inferior product. If they are taking risks, cutting-corners, that is their business. But putting innocent people at risk is much more serious. I regret the tragic deaths and the devastation, but regret is not enough when the same accidents happen time and again. And yes, passion for hunting and passion for making dangerous explosives ARE one and the same thing.

Charles Micallef

Sep 5th 2010, 21:17

Our thoughts and prayers go with the victims, the seriously wounded and the families who just lost their loved ones, in the meantime the killing field rooms continue to blow up and all in the name of a passionate hobby that destroys good families.

When do they ever learn is not the question that we should be asking anymore, but when does all this stop because 4 explosions in a year and I lost count how many deaths should have been more than enough to make some see sense...but will it ever!

Ivan Pirotta

Sep 5th 2010, 21:15

Please BAN all Fireworks. Stop this madness. BAN all Fireworks once and for all.

Will Cauchi

Sep 5th 2010, 21:08

@Camilleri – nassikurak li kullhadd ihobb il-loghob tan-nhar (barra dwk il-bombi stupidi).
Imma allura ghandhom imutu in-nies.

@Michele Sarlo - Iva kullimkien fi-dinja isiru incidenti bhal dawn. Imma jekk Malta saru 5 f’sena allura blistess proprozjon fl-Italja isiru 1000 fis sena. Jekk le allura ghawn xi haga hazina hafna f’Malta.

Melvin Caruana

Sep 5th 2010, 21:04

huwa veru li bhalissa hawn kimika inferjuri u mhix ta kwalita tajba? u l kimika min jimporta l-forzi armati ta malta? u jekk jimpurtawa il forzi armati xinhi ir raguni li jgibu kimika inferjuri. milux qrajt artiklu fuq gazzeta lokali fejn kien hemm miktub li tigi impurtata kimika mil indja u mic cina fejn mhix daqshekk tajba imqabbala ma dik li gieli giet impurtata mil gemanja. ghalmenu fuq dan lartiklu hekk kien hemm miktub min analizi li saret min nies esperti. jien fl-opinjoni tieghi nar ma gahdnux jinqata sfortunatment huwa delizju li fih hafna perikli. jien flopinjoni tieghi hemm bzonn jkun hemm iktar sigurta imma mhux li naqtaw in nar kif kien hawn min ikkumenta.

Eric Gahn

Sep 5th 2010, 21:00

It is becoming extremely very clear that whatever legislation, training and licensing were introduced to limit the danger of working fireworks is being disregarded by the 'diletanti'. It is clear that the neccesity exists for

a) periodic surprise site visits by the army/police at fireworks factories
b) serial numbering finished productsto enable tracking on sale and use
c) army/police to be on site when the fireworks are let off, controlling that all material is correctly serialised (meaning its manufacture was controlled).

Albert Gatt

Sep 5th 2010, 20:54

Soon there will be no need for new rules or new discssions / talks to regulate these fireworks' factories, and hopefully to prevent these brutal accidents and to stop this sensless loss of life of these fanatics. It will be resolved automatically. All factories will soon lost and all 'dilettanti' will soon be dead. Condolences to their respective families.

Albert Farrugia

Sep 5th 2010, 20:52

If we still have someone in charge in this country, if we still have a government, the production of fireworks should be stopped at once, and a proper investigation is carried out. The number of tragedies this year is simply too hight. There should be a proper investigation about what is causing these acidents. Lives are too precious to be lost this way.

VV Bartolo

Sep 5th 2010, 20:51

do you know what respect means?
will you stop being sarcastic?
will you stop being the judge & the jury?
God only knows what the victims' families are going through at this very moment!!!

camilleri

Sep 5th 2010, 20:44

facli tikritika u tmaqdar, kulhadd bravu wara. imma kemm sagrificju jghamlu dawn in-nies hadd ma jarah. u generalment min imaqdar ikunu inthom li tghamlu b b q fuq il bjut u titpaxxew bin-nar li jinharaq. U li nghamlu unur lil Malta bix-xol li jghamlu dawn nies hadd ma jarah? kondoljazzi lil dawn il familji.

s pace

Sep 5th 2010, 20:39

3 or probably 4 other sad loses. A very very sad year. This is becoming the most dangerous activity on the island, and it is useless to compare it with other dangerous sports or activity, cause it does not make sense statistically. That it is a hobby, a tradition or it has touristic value does not mean that it should be untouchable. Fireworks are nice, but it is not something we cannot do without, at least until it is verified what is going wrong. As someone mentioned, how were fireworks transported to Gozo?? The government and authorities are ultimately responsible if third party people are put at risk unknowingly. Someone should be start held criminally responsible if infringements are found in this sense. We do not want a Naxxar repeat, where one innocent life was taken. Ok those who work it knows the risk, but other people should not be put at risk unknowingly, even if that means less tourists for that matter (if at all).

Peter Stoben

Sep 5th 2010, 20:39

...as usual.....talk talk talk and no action will be taken to avoid further accidents!

c spiteri

Sep 5th 2010, 20:38

minn jilab manhar jinharaq il lum jew ghada

M. G. Micallef

Sep 5th 2010, 20:38

Iva ghalina l-Mostin eroj, bniedem mobbli u b'qalb tad deheb. Ghabdek rispett ghal familtu jew le. Ahjar l-awtoritajiet jaraw il-materjal li qed igibu Malta hux tajjeb jew le, dawn l-ispluzzjonijiet kollha mhux zbalji taghhom u lanqas kumbinazzjonijiet.

Michele Sarlo

Sep 5th 2010, 20:37

@ Alfred Baldacchino . You sound that you only read local news. Here is a hint http://www.google.com.mt/#hl=en&source=hp&q=fireworks+factory+explosion&aq=2&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=fireworks+f&gs_rfai=&fp=197bfe92016ceaaf . It happens all over the world not just Malta and Gozo only

patrick zammit

Sep 5th 2010, 20:33

Was'nt this the same factory that exploded some 3 or 4 years ago?

m pace 2

Sep 5th 2010, 20:30

This critical situation needs to dicussed in by both sides political scenario as soon as possible before more lives to be lost under this carnage and a action committee stated by diffrent personnal well known in this field- May God bless these victims and the Holy Mother take these brothers and sisters under her guidance

Paul Vella

Sep 5th 2010, 20:27

Great another one. Either they pay attention what they're doing to prevent this or more people will die

Karl Consiglio

Sep 5th 2010, 20:27

Albert Muscat, The one in Mosta was in line with safety measures, but it blew up anyway, so the solution is to ban them, no saint will get offended, trust me. This is just another bad excuse for a tradition.

MT Caruana

Sep 5th 2010, 20:25

@ MEMBRI PARLAMENTARI BOTH SIDES : IN-NAR SAR WISQ TA PERIKLU, HEMM BZONN LI JITNEJJA DARBA GHAL DEJJEM. @ DILETTANTI TAN NAR: AHSBU FIL-FAMILJA LI ALLA HARES QATT TISTU THALLU WARAJKHOM...SMAJT LI MIETU U MITLUFA, HEMM AHNA FAMILJI IMKISSRA B DULUR KBIR DARBA GHAL DEJJEM. RIP

Rocco Cauchi

Sep 5th 2010, 20:20

In a couple of days we will have band, Mass and burial. Next year it will be business as usual all over Malta and Gozo. Again, it must have been something having to do with readied (safe?!) fireworks and possibly their transportation. The authorities are right now thinking of a face-saving statement...

albert leone ganado

Sep 5th 2010, 20:18

My sincere and deep condolences to the relatives of the victims. A moment of misplaced enjoyment by the victims will leave them nursing an irreparable loss for a lifetime. A couple of weeks ago I urged a temporary moratorium on the manufacturer of fireworks until the source of such frequent mishaps is properly established. I am now asking for the members of the relevant fireworks board who allow such activities to continue to be charged with manslaughter for neglect of their health and safety duties. These amateur setups are putting at risk not only the lives of these enthusiasts constantly playing with death but those of the civil defense and police officers who have to carry out searches for the victims in the most hazardous of situations. Where are the parish priests in condemning such loss of life in all this or are they only good in delivering homilies of death at the funeral services. The hypocrisy of the district MPs who grace the rituals of death by prominence in the front pews in such services is too disgusting to comment upon.

R Curmi

Sep 5th 2010, 20:15

Some photos taken from San Dimitri Chapel

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=209826&id=559401592&saved#!/album.php?aid=209826&id=559401592

Anna Groener

Sep 5th 2010, 20:15

I was in the car when is shaked, i did not know what it was, so I continued and I saw on the right direction Birbuba a mushroom like cloud I have never seen! Than, all these cars want to pass me and rushed to Birbuba street.On my roof i could see these accident tourist. It took 20 mins before i heard an ambulance, and even 30 mins to see the firebrigade, sadly blocked by all these dummies!

J.Xuereb

Sep 5th 2010, 20:13

PROSIT!! MELA MIETU ZEWG EROJ OHRA. QED NGHID HEKK GHAX XI HADD QAL DAN IL-KLIEM FUQ COMMENT HAWNHEKK META KIEN MIET IL-VITTMA TAL-MOSTA. DAN IL-BNIEDEM GHAREF KIEN QAL LI IL-VITTMA TAL-MOSTA KIEN MIET BHALA HERO GHAL MADONNA!!! TISTGHU TIFMUHA DIN?? NISTGHU NIBQGHU SEJRIN B'DIL-MENTALITA'??

mary borg

Sep 5th 2010, 20:12

Three dead....three lives destroyed....three more families destroyed. Mothers, fathers, wives, sons and daughters...their lives without their loved ones...how many more?

albert muscat

Sep 5th 2010, 20:10

For peoples’ lives safety all fireworks factories should be either comply and be in full in line with safety measures or else fire works should be totally banned. I am pretty sure St. Nonsense will not get offended by not having fireworks in his/her feast. My deepest condolences to the victim’s families.

Will Cauchi

Sep 5th 2010, 20:09

Another fireworks ''accident'' much sooner than anybody expected. When these accidents start happening so frequently, all over the island, than something is wrong, deadly wrong. So called Magisterial enquiries after each incident seems to be taking us nowhere. Something very, very, urgent needs to be done. What i am afraid is that the next accident will include also innocent people, especially if God forbid a fireworks explosion happens when these are in transit. What are the authorities waiting for? A mushroom cloud in the middle of main road somewhere in Malta.

J. J. Borg

Sep 5th 2010, 20:09

Why are we manufacturing fireworks here if the "dilettanti" are clearly incompetent?

Stefan Cassar

Sep 5th 2010, 20:06

Video Here... Only seconds after explosion...

Gozo shook after the fireworks explosion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10-bHi_eqFE

R. Cuschieri

Sep 5th 2010, 19:59

Our first thought is of sympathy for the family of the victims. Secondly, when are we going to wake up? People have right to pursue their hobby, even if it's a dangerous one, like mountain climbing, skydiving, etc. But it is clear that there is something fundamentally wrong with the fireworks 'hobby' in Malta (and Gozo). This is a hobby which cannot be treated like stamp collecting, or line fishing, as it involves danger to the people performing it, as well as other people and property. Therefore this calls for a professional approach in all aspects. It's time for politicians on both sides to stop attending funerals of these victims and ensure that a serious framework is set up and followed systematically! I hope that no personal interests of individuals earning money out of these people performing this hobby is hindering serious action!

M Pace

Sep 5th 2010, 19:59

I just heard that the fireworks were being transported to Gharb factory from Ghaxaq Malta). Were they transported on the Gozo Channel with other passengers or by a private boat? Please could someone answer?

Daniel Cuschieri

Sep 5th 2010, 19:52

Something must me done, to many people are losing theirs lives. All this for the local feast.God forbid something like this happens when they are being transported, because not only are putting their lives at risk but also others. Our thoughts must go to the families of the victims but i ask myself, this year there has been alot of tragedies as related to the firework factories and the Government is doing nothing.

Charles Grixti

Sep 5th 2010, 19:44

In my opinon, all firework 'factories' should be illegal, since unqualified persons are usualll working in them. Government should step in and have a proper central place with qualified Chemistry graduates where fireworks can be made and this way Government can also have control of these dangerous chemicals. How many more people need to die each year before something is done by the authorities? Remember, these chemicals can also be used to make regular bombs too and in this day and age, should these be so unregulated?

victor vella

Sep 5th 2010, 19:38

A fireworks licenced manufacturer was telling me recently that the powder they are getting does not even have a label.why? who is allowing this? does this mean that the importer has something to hide? answers please.

Mario George Vella

Sep 5th 2010, 19:35

Follow the link for photos taken while explosion taking place....May God be with those persons involved and their families.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mguru1/sets/72157624760603973/

r micallef

Sep 5th 2010, 19:34

Kumment miftuh lil Mexxejja tal-pajjiz. Dan l -appell ghamiltu meta gara l incident taz Zejtun, fejn kellna vittma dak in nhar, u tlabt l Awtoritajiet biex jiehdu azzjoni bis-serjeta. Ghaliex qed jigru dawn l incidenti kollha, hadd ghadu ma ra ghaliex? Il-materjal li qed jintuza? In-nies, li l hajja taghhom hija imprezzabbli, mhux qed isegwu r-regoli necessarji? L-istrutturi tal-kmamar tan-nar? Hemm xi haga jew xi hadd li qed jabbuza? Meta ser niefqu u nghidu ma rridux aktar vittmi u incidenti f'dawn il gzejjer. Milli jidher nibzghu niehdu mizuri li jekk hemm bzonn ikunu sahansitra mhux daqshekk popolari. Ghalhekk dan appell lil Mexxejja taghna sincerament, nitlobhom ejjew naghmlu xi haga halli naraw ghaliex qed jigru dawn l incidenti u ahna lkoll ghandna dritt li nkunu nafu. Grazzi.

adrian pavia

Sep 5th 2010, 19:33

hi ghazla ta min imur fil kmamar tan nar li jirriskja hajtu - basta li ma jweggux nies innocenti li jkunu residenti vicin il kmamar

Chris Agius

Sep 5th 2010, 19:30

Other sources are claiming two dead (a man and a woman), two injured and two missing

Tony Charlton

Sep 5th 2010, 19:14

More photos here . . http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=254466&id=722858791

Sabine Cassar-Alpert

Sep 5th 2010, 19:13

A photo I took from the first-floor roof of our house in Gharb... :(
http://scagozo.com/2010/09/05/fireworks-factory-blew-up-in-gharb/

Sirens have been racing up and down the street for the past 45 minutes, I sure hope nobody died!

Franco Tabone

Sep 5th 2010, 19:09

More photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32715&id=100000005237094&l=3fc0934bc8

Robert Mifsud

Sep 5th 2010, 19:07

Mhux l-aqwa li gejna l-ewwel f'kompetizjoni tan-nar, skond il-mentalita ta' dawk li jhobbu n-nar. Dawn it-tragedji malajr jintnessew u r-rota tibqa' ddur l-istess mod.

Clive Ciappara

Sep 5th 2010, 19:00

More photos here: http://www.facebook.com/clive.ciappara#!/album.php?aid=279714&id=525210615

Karl Consiglio

Sep 5th 2010, 19:00

Keep it up, prosit.

David Robinson

Sep 5th 2010, 18:59

Oh what a suprise yet another explosion, when is someone in goverment going to get some balls and do something to try and avoid a potentially bigger disaster.

eric psaila

Sep 5th 2010, 18:58

@ Alfred Baldacchino No it does not happen only in Malta. Just look what happened in Holland in May 2000. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tew4oHz_Fow&feature=related S.E. Fireworks, a company that stores fireworks articles, is located in the middle of the working class housing estate of Mekkelholt in the northern Dutch city of Enschede. On 13 May 2000, two explosions in a fireworks warehouse detonated on estimated 100 tonnes of explosives. The blast was felt up to 30 kilometers away. Within minutes the surrounding residential quarter was devasted. Some 400 apartments were reduced to cinders, another 1000 were damaged. The resulting fires are also said to have caused the release of hazardous asbestos. After the explosion 22 people (4 firefighters) were found dead, 947 were injured, many of them seriously

Noel Curmi

Sep 5th 2010, 18:55

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1640266&l=e0fbc08e2f&id=1337717488#!/photo.php?pid=31747516&fbid=1610107770803&id=1179499132

l-ispluzjoni kif deret minn ta sannat ghawdex

Karl Consiglio

Sep 5th 2010, 18:53

Nice one.

Carm Ellul

Sep 5th 2010, 18:50

I hope nobody lost his life or was injured. This time the hot and dry weather cannot be blamed. The persons who make these fireworks must have a good idea of what has changed recently in Malta and Gozo that could be resulting in spontaneous ignition and then explosion of stored fireworks. Is it a case of cheap raw materials being imported or new techniques that are making fireworks unstable. What are the court appointed experts reporting???

Nick Abela

Sep 5th 2010, 18:49

More photos can be seen here : http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7069679&l=60ae83d7d9&id=717833134

Hope nobody is injured.

L. Cutajar

Sep 5th 2010, 18:49

Jekk il-politikant Nazzjonalist jew Laburist ser jibqaw ibaxxu rashom ghall dawn it-tragedji ma nafx kif xi darba nistaw nirrangaw is-sitwazzjoni. Jekk minn naha l-ohra hemm il-biza tal-voti allura ahna in-nies semplici m'ahna xejn hlief pupazzi bl-ispaga. Toqghodx titkellem fuq spezzjonijiet, pieni u regolamenti ghax man-nar m'hemmx hniena u id-dizgrazzji ma jistawx jonqsu. Is-serjeta u protezzjoni tan-nies tigi qabel id-dilettant tan-nar. X"GHANDHOM XI JGHIDU IL-MINISTRU U IZ-ZEWG MEMBRI PARLAMENTARI LABURISTI LI JKUNU DEJJEM TA QUDDIEM FUQ IX-XOGHOL TAN-NAR??? Irridu risposta minghajr tlaqliq. Ma jistax ikun nibqaw sejrin hekk, tigi dizgrazzja, noqghodu nibku ghax miet dak u l-iehor, jintesew l-affarijiet u ftit wara tigi dizgrazzja ohra.

L. Grixti

Sep 5th 2010, 18:48

This would be the 5th or 6th, not 3rd, the article itself mentions 3 other accidents itself.

Hope no one got hurt. Something needs to be done to make these places safer.L

pisani

Sep 5th 2010, 18:47

and yet another one. these people NEVER learn :S

Alfred Baldacchino

Sep 5th 2010, 18:46

Never hear of a fireworks explosion in other countries.
Does it happen only in Malta and Gozo ?

Albert Farrugia

Sep 5th 2010, 18:43

This is getting beyond ridiculous now

James Caruana

Sep 5th 2010, 18:40

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1640266&l=e0fbc08e2f&id=1337717488

as seen from my house - shocked me o.O

joe scerri

Sep 5th 2010, 18:39

again and again and again, how many this year alone?

Jesmond Micallef

Sep 5th 2010, 18:37

Why has it got to be this way ? Hope no one is injured or worst still.........!!

J Fenech

Sep 5th 2010, 18:31

What is happening to these firework factories????

Leo Mifsud

Sep 5th 2010, 18:29

U jibqa ma jsir xejn bis serjeta!

Dominic Vella

Sep 5th 2010, 18:28

It felt like a tremor from Xaghra. Hope that noone got hurt .