Video: Scene of devastation at fireworks factory site
The powerful series of explosions which rocked the Farrugia Brothers fireworks factory yesterday afternoon flattened the building, blasting large boulders a distance of several metres in this otherwise peaceful and scenic valley near Gharb.
The above footage was taken this morning by Paul Spiteri Lucas as rescuers found the body of the fourth victim of the explosion - factory owner Nenu Farrugia. Another three victims were found in the debris yesterday while another two men are being treated for severe burns at Mater Dei Hospital. Their condition is still critical.
The explosion took place as the fireworks were being prepared for the feast of Our Lady of Victories in Xaghra.
The circumstances of the blast were similar to that at the 15th August fireworks factory in Mosta last month in that the fireworks had already been manufactured. It had hitherto been thought that fireworks were safest when they were ready, and most explosions occurred during the mixing stage.
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J Attard
Sep 7th 2010, 22:36
I wonder if after all these tragedies, spectators still enjoy watching the fireworks!!!!!
Year after year we are loosing more and more dedicated people who work to give us a spectacular.
I hope we'll see an end to these explosions..................considering what a small island we are , we might be very often under treat without us knowing. I'm sure the residents of Naxxar can never forget.
Hope the Maltese show more solidarity with the victims' families.
There should be more strict regulations for safety without any delay.
jo folini
Sep 8th 2010, 14:57
i totally agree...too many lives and families have been devastated....my deepest condolences....TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN;DO STOP THIS MASSACRE!nothing IS MORE SACRED THEN A LIFE......GBU..JO.MALTA.
wendy brown
Sep 7th 2010, 14:51
I ask these questions, which route the lorries that carried the fireworks took to reach the boat that took them over to Gozo ? What would have happened if the explosion took place on the way . We would have had a repetition of the Naxxar explosion.
James A. Tyrrell
Sep 7th 2010, 09:11
@ms ghoare. Agree with you 100%. How many other factories have these same cheap chemicals from China waiting to explode? All factories should be closed until they are cleared by the AFM.
F Borg
Sep 6th 2010, 21:51
@ Edward Zammit: Jien nahseb hadt zball habib, imissek ghedt li minhabba l- FTIT li jhobbu n- nar qed ibghatu l-HAFNA li ma jhobbuhx, u mela kontra! Jekk allura lill dawn "il-haddiema" li jmorru jahdmu n-nar minghajr hadd ma jgelhom hadd ma jista jiehu decizjoni ghalihom, fuq l-istess argument, jistaw dawn il- ftit li min jeddhom imorru jahdmu n-nar, jiehdu decizjoni ghall- ELUF ta' nies li hajjithom saret mizerja b'dawn il-hsejjes stupidi ta' dawn il- murtali? U dan biex ma nsemmux il- periklu li qed joholqu ghall kulhadd? Jista xi hadd jghidilna kif in-nar mahdum Malta jittella Ghawdex? Fuq il- vapur tal- Gozo Channel, mal- bqija tan-nies? Nafu li dan jittella go containers, kif jista wiehed ikun jaf x'fihom dawn il- containers li jkun hemm fuq il- vapur mal- passiggieri? Issa meta allahares qatt tinqala xi wahda kbira, naraw il- politici jpercu sidirhom fuq quddiem fil- funerali, ahjar jaraw x'jaghmlu u jaqtaw dan il- periklu u tragedji bla bzonn. Jekk l-eluf ta' Kaccaturi u nassaba kellhom "jidraw" minghajr kacca u nsib, hija xi haga ta' barra minn hawn biex dawn il- ftit dilettanti jidraw minghajr murtali, ghall gid ta' kulhadd?
Sean Azzopardi
Sep 6th 2010, 21:31
usually we only see this type of thing happening in places with war , but lately its malta making the headlines for explosions!
Frans Cremona
Sep 6th 2010, 17:46
Devastating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFRCPAZzGS8
Condolences to the Farrugia relatives and friends.
John F. GALEA - San Gwann
Sep 6th 2010, 16:10
Please allow me to air my views on the workings of the fire works factories on the Maltese islands. I am no expert in fireworks at all. However with the numerous accidents taking place annually resulting in a number of fatalities authorities should be deeply concerned about the safety of said factories and the handling of explosives.
My considered opinion is that it is high time that the government should enforce that only one licensed state of the art fireorks factory be operative under very strict twenty four hour daily surveillance. Explosive material imported is be thoroughly examined and approved, handled only by well trained and duly certified personnel who are fully conscious of international rules and regulations pertaining to said job. An immediate prohibition of all work by dilettanti should come into force forthwith.
We are witnessing frequent explosions which are indeed very sad. Besides each time our already overburdened police force is being stretched to the limit. This also applies to our health personnel and other paraphernalia. Such accidents also brings about a drain on the onus of social security payments.
I do appeal to our parliamentarians and to church authorities to delve into this unfortunate recurring problem.
B borg
Sep 6th 2010, 14:58
Misshom jaqtghu il fireworks xkull wahda
Anthony Dougall
Sep 6th 2010, 14:51
My condolences to the families of all the victims.
Are the experts and authorities contemplating on the potential dangers that mobile phones
(so comon these days) have in these high risk places.
Was any investigation carried, out about calls to (or) from mobile phones in possession by
the late victims at the time of the incidents. Even switching on or switching off a mobile phone in certain places could spark off an explosion, let alone sending or receiving calls.
Mobile phones should be switched off, before going to a Petrol Stations for fueling and
also in areas where high fuel-vapour is present.
For safety reasons, mobile phones should not be allowed in areas where explosive dust or
material is present.
Therefore mobile phones should not be brought inside Fireworks Factories and they should be prohibitted at once from such premises.
Al. Mifsud
Sep 6th 2010, 14:18
From the comments I read after this umteenth tragedy it seems that finally people are waking up to these realities and want to do something about this worrying and dangerous situation.
PEOPLE WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS LOSS OF LIVES. Aparently the authorities (and the church who indirectly support such activities) don't.
Since there seems to be a consensus within the population to stop - there should be a movement to petition against firework fabrication in Malta. Perhaps it could end up in a national referendum (although in theory this activity is to be banned outright) to get the proper legislation in place.
In a status quo we will have more and more victims, and God knows what when and who will be next.
w.scicluna
Sep 6th 2010, 14:11
Will they ever learn?
Benigno Saliba
Sep 6th 2010, 14:07
Yet another fireworks tragedy. Three generations of a single family annihilated. It appears Ninu Farrugia was too kind-hearted to harbour fireworks manufactured in various other factories. I sincerely believe that security and responsibility should be born by the manufacturer. How could Ninu know the materials used and what security precautions taken by the manufacturer? Ninu had spent a lifetime in fireworks manufacture and was known to be cautious. If authorities still decide that fireworks are a sine qua non, then strict regulations are to be strictly enforced. And voila'. 80,000 Malta liri gone with the wind
Edward Zammit
Sep 6th 2010, 12:35
min jahdem in-nar jaf ghal-liema riskju diehel. jaf li l-lum jew ghada ha jlaqqat harqa jew ghar, minhabba l-ftit li ma jhobbux in-nar m'ghandhomx ghalfejn ibghatu l-hafna li jhobbuh (inkluzi min jahdmu). Lil-haddiema tal-postijiet tan-nar hadt m'hu qed jaqbadhom min ghonqom u jgelhom imorru bil-fors, imorru min jeddhom u hadd ma ghandu dritt jiehu decizjoni ghalihom.
Melchior Busuttil
Sep 7th 2010, 12:13
Tista tghidilna min fejn gibt din l'istatistika " ftit li ma jhobbux in-nar m'ghandhomx ghalfejn ibghatu l-hafna li jhobbuh"
ray sacco
Sep 7th 2010, 14:36
@edward zammit:
and how do you know that the majority loves fireworks and only a small minority doesn't? i agree with you that those who risk their lives in fireworks factories do it on their own free will, so let them be. but what people want is more scrutiny and observation of rules and laws so that innocent bystanders, like the slaughtered naxxar woman and the fgura couple who lost their home, are not put in danger. what was a pregnant woman doing at a fireworks factory? how is firework transported from the factory to another village when sold? it is obvious that they pass from inhabited areas and roads! it is clear that rules and laws are being regularly twisted and broken! even after the naxxar tragedy, and it is also clear that the authorities are doing nothing to regulate these abuses!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 6th 2010, 12:31
Can anyone issue statistics of such pitiful incidents in Malta and compare them to other countries where firework manufacture is no less popular then Malta. Surely the discrepancy would indicate that whoever issues licenses for the manufacture of fireworks here in Malta is not competent enough to ensure such license holders are qualified. It is indeed pitiful to see so many people injured or killed especially when they all share official recognition. What does getting a license to manufacture fireworks entail? is there any official training available?
E. Abela
Sep 6th 2010, 11:51
Yet again a fireworks factory blows up with resultant deaths. First of all my condolences to the family of the deceased. Secondly, when is government, together with the Opposition, going to sit down and enact legislation to enforce stricter regulations and enforce safety measures. Also, no more fireworks factories please, we have more than enough. The Church also can do its part. We have heard nothing yet from the Bishop of Gozo - he is usually very verbose on various issues. Come on all of you and speak up once and for all and call a spade a spade. Do not worry politicians, you will not lose votes, and the church will not lose its 'fidili'.
Mark J. Magri
Sep 6th 2010, 11:05
I am hereby reminding all the fireworks manufacturers and people living nearby fireworks factories.......
that the more fireworks is planned to be produced the more manufacturers and alas the people living nearby are destined to death in the pipline.
It is better to be safe than sorry....a friendly advice to be noted...
GRANPINTO-Hamrun
ms ghoare
Sep 6th 2010, 10:47
Condolences to the family,Farrugia
This is another Tragedy, could it be Prevented ? we dont know , i am not going to suggest that this work should be stopped but to be investigated,
WHERE isthe materials being bought from are they new suppliers as we are hearing alot of explosins lately, The materials coming out of CHINA AS they are cutting corners to make more money ,all the time we are hearing bad quality stuff in food , clothing ,household items ,whice are not to european standard and if it so then we should ban all products from China ,This is the fourth or fifth death on our Islands and my heart stops when i hear news like this as I too have family which allways hanging around il-mahzen .
Leonard Gauci
Sep 6th 2010, 16:30
Of course it could have been prevented. For example a pregnant woman has no business hanging around five trucks loaded with explosives.
O. Sant' Angelo
Sep 7th 2010, 10:12
You are barking up the wrong tree.
One can import very high quality items from China too.
It just costs more.....
Carmel Serracino Inglott
Sep 6th 2010, 10:47
I fully agree with Mario Pandolfino that Government should take action regarding more safety in fireworks factories. It is unheard of that 2 fireworks factories blow up during a period of 2 weeks. Certain measures should be taken by Government as during the last days before the feast all
that matters is getting the fireworks ready and perhaps safety precautions are not taken. I feel that we have had enough "fireworks" before feasts that it is about time that the Government takes action.
Aaron Zammit
Sep 6th 2010, 10:40
L-ewwelnett kondoljanzi lill-familjari kollha tal-vittmi. Quddiem disrazzja bhal din tigi minghajr kliem. In-nar huwa sabih u kulhadd jitpaxxa jara l-ispettakli. Inutli meta jsir xi incident bhal dan noqghodu nilghabuha tal-esperti u nibdew nikritikaw bl-addocc. Fl-opinjoni tieghi ghandhom issiru tlett affarijiet importanti u immedjatament mill-Awtoritajiet. 1. Spezzjoni min esperti fil-qasam f'kull kamra tan-Nar biex jaraw li tilhaq l-istandards mehtiega u fejn hemm in-nuqqasijiet jigi ordnat li biex issiru dawk l-affarijiet mehtiega fi zmien 3 xhur. 2. Spezzjoni u investigazzjoni biex ikun assigurat li kull min jidhol jahdem fil-kamra tan-nar huwa persuna bil-licenzja mehtiega. 3. L-AKTAR IMPORTANTI FIL-MUMENT: Fi zmien xahar issir spezzjoni min esperti tal-materjal (jekk ikun hemm bzonn esperti barranin) fuq il-materjal kollu li hawn fic-cirkolazzjoni u li gie mpurtat fl-ahhar xhur. Sadanitant sakemm issir din l-ispezzjoni ghandu jieqaf ix-xoghol kollu fuq produzzjoni ta' nar. Ghal quddiem l-awtoritajiet ghandhom jassiguraw li kull materjal kollu importat jigi spezzjonat u iccekjat li ikun ta' kwalita' prima u mhux inferjuri. Dan huwa xoghol li jidihrli li jaqa fir-responsabilita' tal-Ministru tal-Intern. F'idejk Ministru.
Peter Shaw
Sep 6th 2010, 10:40
Stop this disregard for human life and also for other people who do not play with fire and are visiting Gozo to relax (hopefullt not to be hit by debris) !