Update 5: Heavy rain expected to persist throughout the night - Civil Protection
The Civil Protection Department this evening renewed its appeal for people to avoid flood-prone areas, saying that heavy rain is expected to persist in some areas throughout the night.
Hail stones the size of broad beans turned some fields in Gozo white this morning, while the Blue Lagoon became the Brown Lagoon, as the above pictures by Jason Attard show.
It rained hard for some three hours in Gozo, Comino and the North of Malta.A stone wall collapsed on an access road in Marfa which was taking traffic from Cirkewwa because of the closure of the main road for works.
Pieces of tarmac were pulled off the road surface near Ghajn Qaliet in Rabat. The road from Victoria to Marsalforn in Gozo was also damaged and some walls collapsed.
Just outside Mosta, a car was carried by rainwater and the driver was rescued by rescuers from the Civil Protection Department. The vehicle ended up upside down near a bridge. The driver was checked at Mater Dei Hospital after having swallowed some water. (see video).
Some homes were reported flooded in Nigret and Bahrija.
Flooding was reported in Xlendi and in Marsalforn in Gozo. In Marsalforn, a woman and two children were rescued from a car which was pushed towards the sea. Another man was rescued as he was carried away by a torrent of water and managed to hang on to an electricity pole. However other reports that a Jeep was seen in the sea proved to be false - although a helicopter was seen searching the area for some time.
Three men were reportedly rescued in Ramla Valley, where heavy damage was also reported to the fields.
Arriva said the bus service was suffering delays on most of the routes due to the heavy rainfall that has hit the Maltese Islands.
It said major problems had been faced in the Msida and Birkirkara area, severely affecting a number of routes.
Routes 41, 42, 43 are not driving through Valley Road because of heavy water displacement. These buses are being diverted through Hamrun until the situation clears.
Routes 12 and 13 are still driving through Msida but are experiencing heavy delays due to rainfall collecting in the area, causing heavy congestion. Civil protection officers are in the area monitoring the situation.
Delays are also being experienced in Rabat due to heavy waters at the Nigret area, the company said.
Meanwhile, some houses were reported flooded in the Nigret and Bahrija areas of Rabat this morning.
A number of schools also reported low attendance because of the rain.
The CPD warning was the third today after another two warnings this morning - which led some people not to send their children to school.
Foreign meteorological stations this morning also reported that heavy rainfall was heading Malta's way.
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EDWIN DE MARCO
Nov 30th 2011, 14:42
Please DRY UP! DRY UP! No, this is not an appeal to Mother Nature to give us dry spells. It's only meant to the CPD who persist in taking notice of the Met report in Malta & keep issuing completely misguided weather reports.
Sean Fava
Nov 30th 2011, 14:32
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2766047034430&set=a.2395001758530.2139071.1355533565&type=1&theater
dan huwa il kawantita ta ilma li kien hemm ezat kief ir ragel gie mahrug mil van
Christina Pace
Nov 30th 2011, 11:27
I wish i'd taken pictures of mellieha bypass hill yesterday. That was cary.
G G Debono
Nov 30th 2011, 01:18
Dear everybody
This is nothing ---- expect more of this, and worse, for two reasons:
1) As we cover more land with concrete and tarmac - less rain gets absorbed into soil and terrain, and there is more water runoff into the sea (or floods) instead of into our aquifer,
-2) As climate change kicks in extreme weather conditions will become more frequent - this includes both episodes of extreme heavy rainfall and heatwaves....
all our own doing - too bad for our children and grand children &c
about time we came to our senses - no?
G
J. Custò
Nov 29th 2011, 22:15
Who said we don't have rivers or lakes?
Chantelle Mifsud
Nov 29th 2011, 22:06
what a waste of water = Money .... we d better do a system that is useful than the gozo tunnel and stuff like that ...
Victor Pulis
Nov 29th 2011, 21:12
Some days ago we were assured that malta was equipped to deal with a natural disaster! We have a major disaster everytime it drizzles!!
Pia Attard
Nov 30th 2011, 10:53
How very first world of you Mr Pulis.
Where are the deaths, the displaced people, the refugees? the homeless? the villages swept to sea?
perspective.
rossy farrugia
Nov 29th 2011, 20:10
if you dont have a solution then you are part of the problem
Steve Zammit
Nov 30th 2011, 16:24
What is your solution?
rossy farrugia
Nov 29th 2011, 20:01
'if you dont have a solution then you are part of the problem '
Andreas Moser
Nov 29th 2011, 19:59
Did I choose a stupid time to move to Malta: http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/leaving-london-moving-to-malta/ ?
Kate Hudson
Nov 29th 2011, 20:56
No!! See my comment on your blog!
C Bugeja
Nov 29th 2011, 21:47
No, this only happens like once a year, maybe twice, on the whole the climate of Malta is having hot summers (really hot) and mild winters, no snow, no minus temperatures. In fact we don't have central heating in our homes. On the whole it is a fairly safe place (also depending where you plan to stay) ... No where is perfect, but I'm happy to call here my home.
Most of the Maltese complain a lot, but remember that most stories that find their way here are because of their negative impact. You're not bound to see a story titled "No one got mugged today or It was grand weather today) so don't worry.
However this might make you feel better :)
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110914/local/Malta-is-safest-place-on-earth-.384605
Eman Pulis
Nov 29th 2011, 18:41
So much soil is wasted, washed away.
Mr Anthony Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 18:31
"....... Arriva said the bus service was suffering delays on most of the routes due to the heavy rainfall that has hit the Maltese Islands."
Mr.Bastow, it has been "raining heavily" since July, when your company Arriva hit the Maltese Islands.
The delays are not due (only) to heavy rainfall, but to sheer incompetence.
Mrs Joana Pura
Nov 29th 2011, 18:19
Strange but nobody is asking why Malta does not have an efficient drainage system. The water is on the road from the Coast Road-next to the sea- till the most unexpected corner of the island. Just because is raining 2-3 months in a year we should pay all the damages of the roads, slow moving traffic, delays in the working system,electricity missing, alteration on the drainage system and all the rest ? Those are our money, our taxes our budget.All kind of European projects but none for the drainage system.In October the 6-th I had my car in Balzan with 20 cm of water inside and blocked more then 1 hour in the "company" of the rain water+ drainage. October, November, December, January maybe February. Not enough for a serious investment and developing in the drainage system?
C Magri
Nov 29th 2011, 18:03
What was the guy in the video thinking of? He was very nearly swept away there, just not worth the risk!
Pule' Carmel
Nov 29th 2011, 18:00
May I say Prosit to the authorities for the work done on Qormi Floodwater Channel prior to the Floods in September. It appears that the Floodwater junction at Millenia/ under Aldo Moro road coped very well. Prosit again.
As expected some debris have acculmulated on the leading colums under Aldo Moro entry and also under Albert Town Bridge, but not much compared to previous years. Also some heavy stones were carred down into the new floodwater channel on the down side of Albert Town bridge. If these would be cleared as the rain stops, it will ensure that more rain will be coped with.
Sincerely thank you all the authorities for your work and cooperation, in keeping that junction clean of any debris. IT IS MALTA'S JUGULAR VEIN AND IT MUST NOT STOP THE BLOOD FROM FLOWING BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE HIGH.
Thank you once again.
Pule'
Eric Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 19:44
Mr Pule
The rain in the south was minor compared to the northern part of Malta from Mosta to Gozo.
Had the same downpour happened in the South then rest assured that Qormi will have suffered.
Victor Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 22:19
Eric, true the rain in the southern part of Malta was mild compared to the northern part, but one has to remember that the water coming through the places Mr Pule mentioned also comes from the northern part of the island, You have to consider water coming as far as Rabat and dingli , sigiewi and zebbug, part of attard and balzan area.Yes Mr Pule as you said if MARSA STOPS Malta is choked.We all remember that in the past we used to have to take our chances to cross Marsa or take a chance of crossing the ford at the bottoim of Luqa road Qormi at the end of wied is sewda.
Franky Jones
Nov 29th 2011, 17:35
Imnalla kien il budget 2012... ax b ghaqal u b serjeta biss nistaw nerbhu il MALTEMP :-)
Silvio Mizzi
Nov 29th 2011, 17:03
http://www.meteoweb.eu/2011/11/forti-piogge-in-atto-a-malta-disagi-e-allerta-meteo-confermata-per-le-prossime-ore/100483/
http://www.meteoweb.eu/2011/11/fucina-temporalesca-sul-canale-di-sicilia-nubifragi-e-temporali-fra-tunisia-e-malta/100493/
Mrs Teresa Pace
Nov 29th 2011, 18:09
lol very very funny :-))
Mrs Teresa Pace
Nov 29th 2011, 18:39
My mistake was meant for Matthew Grima
Matthew Grima
Nov 29th 2011, 16:59
Oh if we could use the water. But why should we? Fish need to drink too.
Mrs Teresa Pace
Nov 29th 2011, 18:38
lol very very funny :-))
Victor Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 22:21
ooops Lapsus Lija cemetary sorry
Kristina Mifsud
Nov 29th 2011, 16:53
Hlief tgargir ma tarax fil kummenti isfel... Gurnata xita kull ma ghamlet amlemnu ghamlet :)
Saviour Cachia
Nov 29th 2011, 16:43
@Peter Shaw
I cannot say whether you were joking or talking seriously about Arriva. Come on of all time, even today we are trying to make a mockery of Arriva. I must admit so far I have not used them, and I try to use them the barest minium. But certainly I would not reserve any criticism for today. It is a tough job on the road today for all vehicles, so let us be more reasonable in what we say. If your comment was not an irony, well I hope you managed to get your Arriva. If you arrived in time or not, I cannot say. God bless, my friend.
B. Pollacco
Nov 29th 2011, 16:21
t-tor tal-gvern u ta gonzi ax gab x-xita...ax dejjem hu jehel (pls note im not being serious)
Saviour Cachia
Nov 29th 2011, 19:15
@B. Pollacco
That's the spirit my friend...it is a good joke.
Mr leo attard
Nov 29th 2011, 19:43
actually you are somewhat right -- it is the fault of all thosegovts (labour and PN alike ) who neglected to deal with this problem. that run-off could be diverted to rreservoirs and used for agriculture and they can form man-made lakes that would boost the beauty of the countryside
Peter Shaw
Nov 29th 2011, 16:09
I am using Arriva today. I hope it Arriva in time !
Zagroma Savrene
Nov 29th 2011, 16:42
It will. Arriva has priority over cars so its not a problem. (If cars do not give priority, said cars are forced to give priority by simply using the buses's sheer size to sweep them aside).
Alfred Attard
Nov 29th 2011, 16:07
With reference to the photo showing pieces of tarmac near Ghajn Qaliet roundabout in Rabat, it is important for Transport Malta or which ever authority is responsible to know that the tarmac was dragged to the area from Vjal il-Haddiem and its anchilleri roads. The moon surface is smoother than Vjal il-Haddiem, which was built in 1979. It badly needs to be rebuild (not re-surfaced or patched). Apart from the very bad state of the road surface, there is also a problem of sewage flood especially when it rains. Last year a family doctor who was doing home visits while it was raining, plunged in one of the big holes with his car. However, the local council is claiming that the road falls under the responsibility of the central government, with Minister Austin Gatt rebutting that it falls under the responsibility of the local council. Can anyone take note please!!!!
Francesca Pace
Nov 29th 2011, 15:26
ahjar jigu jirrangawlna dit-triq! hi kienet ga qeda sew u iktar giet sew bix xita ghax xeba tarmak inqala minn postu (for a change). tkisser karozza tghaddi minnha! Imma nahseb kulhadd ghalxejn joqghod jitbaqbab ghax ila hekk zmien u nahseb hekk ha tibqa
Zagroma Savrene
Nov 29th 2011, 16:27
Why don't you try fixing it yourself instead of whining for someone else to do it for you?
KM. Psaila
Nov 29th 2011, 19:15
@Zagroma Savrene
Apart from the very important fact that it is going to be fixed from our pockets anyway, I doubt that anyone has the machinery parked in his garage to fix the roads. Please do a favour to yourself and throw away your computer
Anthony Farrugia
Nov 29th 2011, 15:19
Can somebody (professional please !) give a reasoned explanation why in Swieqi it rained but in Mosta (1 or 2 kilometres as the crow flys) it deluged !
Neil Collins
Nov 29th 2011, 15:38
how about because the bulk of the rain cloud was over some areas but not others. The rain has to stop somewhere
J.C. Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 15:41
Mr Farrugia, mhux ahjar issaqsi lil Gonzi?
Cajt apparti, meta kont ghadni tifel konna qed nilghabu fil-pjazza tar-rahal fejn kont noqghod. Hin minnhom bdiet niezla x-xita u l-grupp taghna nnota li l-grupp tan-naha l-ohra tal-pjazza baqghu jilghabu normali. Wara sibna li n-naha taghna kienet tqabel ix-xita u n-naha l-ohra ma kienetx. Issa dan qed nghid fuq pjazza ta' rahal u mhux kilometri l-boghod. (Din grat vera)
Emanuel Curmi
Nov 29th 2011, 16:18
A patch of turbulence wtih dense cloud cover & heavy thunderstorms moved up from the south caught the western side of Malta but struck Gozo frontally with it's full force depositing hail and torrential rain in its wake.
Zagroma Savrene
Nov 29th 2011, 16:38
The people in charge of distributing rain water had decided that Swieqi needed more rain than Mosta, so they happily obliged.
Pule' Carmel
Nov 29th 2011, 18:13
For the simple reason that rain clouds are not homogenious in their water contents.
Victor Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 22:28
Anthony, you reminded me of the day when there was a hail storm in MARSA SCALA, The ice in some places was about 30 cm high, and that wasn't at the side of the roads but in the middle.I live not more then 1 km up the road and was doing some work in the garden, so I dodn't have a full view of the clouds.In the garden it was sunny and even comfotably hot and I couldnt believe my eyes when I saw the report on the 8 pm news.
M Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 15:15
Matbe after this Arriva shoul rethink the routes.
How about putting back the old route 71 - Valletta to B'Kara. Why are people being asked to get their buses in Valley road when this road is the first to get flooded ?
Even buses 41,42,43 are not being allowed to use Vallet road, so why ask people who live in B'Kara to get the bus from infrot of McDonalds ?
Claudio Cilia
Nov 29th 2011, 15:44
sorry M.Borg... I catch the bus from Valley Road and now you are proposing that busses don't pass from there.. so .. What am I suppose to do then if they remove it? .. sigh
Clara Cilia
Nov 29th 2011, 17:46
Well said Claudio.....Mr.Borg proposing the re-introduction of bus route 71 is a good idea but removing the other bus routes doesnt make sense!!!! There are students and workers that every day catch the bus from valley road !
Peter Shaw
Nov 29th 2011, 15:10
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ...
Victor Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 22:29
Dream on man dream on
Ms f vincenti
Nov 29th 2011, 15:04
What a shame all this rainwater going to waste.... I would have rather seen funds from the EU go towards creating much needed reservoirs than spent on other projects that are done without any care or inclusion of water-catchment systems. What with the water-table at dangerously low levels and at risk of salination and the over-pumping via bore-holes that is rampant, all signs point to us becoming completely reliant on reverse osmosis - no need to state the problems associated with that. Those leading our country into the future need to read the writing on the wall & take notice of admirable people like Marco Cremona, a water conservation campaigner who strives to educate & bring about awareness for sustainable water usage.
George Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 14:50
Many stupid comments below, some fellows even included politics. For the heavy rains we had to-day we should thank God that damages were to a very minimal. During my whole life time I have never seen Gozo in such a storm and resulted with little consequences. Thanks that the very heavy rain water and big hail for quite long hours all went easily to the sea. So it is true that Gozo is one of the safest places on earth!
Joseph N. Attard
Nov 29th 2011, 14:49
Some of the comments below makes one wonder whether their authors saw what happened in Genoa and its environs a month ago. And more recently, in nearby Sicily. Which does not mean that we would not do with some serious attention to roads from TM, of course.
Joseph Scerri
Nov 29th 2011, 14:47
Imnalla Gonzi lahaq ghamel il- bugett biex bil-ghaqal nerbhu il-maltemp !!
Jeffrey Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 14:45
Valletta Road Zurrieq , was not that flooded and the usual inspection holes did not pop up like they used to . So thanks Transport Malta , and thanks to Austin Gatt for a good job well done.
J.C. Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 14:44
Hija hasra tara dak l-ilma kollu sejjer jigri lejn il-bahar.
Ghadu ma sar xejn biex izommuh milli jinhela.
C. Sammut
Nov 29th 2011, 15:49
Issa jkollna Parliament u Breakwater godda!!! Dawn jghinu hafna sabiex rizorsi tant utli, bhal l-ilma tax-xita, nibzghu ghalihom!!
Silvio Mizzi
Nov 29th 2011, 17:11
Veru jinhela kbar ta ilma ....
Noel Mifsud
Nov 29th 2011, 14:41
No Govt to blame agree, imma to blame biss huwa li bnejna fil widien, u biddilna it toroq li ghamlet in natura. Din xi haga li mhux dal gvern biss ghamilla biex ma tifmunix hazin, tipo l msida bnejna fuq il bahar, bkara il wied intella bil bini, hal qomri l istess. Issa l aghar li qed jamel il gvern huwa li tipo tal Mistra kien se jtija ghal bini, il Mosta se jibni, xi gnien hal ghaxaq l istess, u jekk se jibqaq jibni fil widien u l godda se nigu hafna aghar.
debbie Voss
Nov 29th 2011, 14:30
Buy a boat
Alfred Agius
Nov 29th 2011, 17:01
Int gejja bid-daghjsa jew Miss?
Mark Jones
Nov 29th 2011, 14:24
The UN say that we are the second safest country in the world, and that we our infrastructure is stable and can handle the unlikely event of a natural disaster,yet some heavy hail causes severe problems...
Jeffrey Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 14:41
Ever been to Thailand or Vietnam Mr Jones?
John Zammit
Nov 29th 2011, 15:11
Surly not with the kind of roads we have
Cassio Galea
Nov 29th 2011, 15:41
Shows how much the UN knows..
Giovann Demartino
Nov 29th 2011, 17:24
Some persons go out of their way to ridicule their own country. (If Mr Jones is maltese, that is) What problems Mr Jones? Do you never watch foreign news? Did you see what happened in Italy and in Sicily this week? We should thank the good Lord that Very, very rarely do we have any real problems here. No earthquakes, no tsunamis, no mountains of mud burying whole cities. Yes, Malta is certainly the safest place on earth.
George Smith
Nov 29th 2011, 13:57
Din mijijx haga gdida f'dan il pajjiez . Wara il maltemp nibdew naraw il hofor fit traqat. Ahjar iqumu mirraqda Transport Malta u jibruvaw isolvu dawn il problemi li is sewwieqa ikollom jaddu minnom. Kemm fil maltemp kif ukoll fil bnazzi. Fejn qedin dawk li huma responsabli biex jaraw li ix xoghol qijat mixi sew ? Mela sewwi il vettura li tkun tieghk ghax tkun wasalt biex tehoda il VRT. Nofs il problemi kolla il vetturi jiegu minn habba triqat li jinsapu fijom. Grazzi ghal fondi li niehdu mill EU biex ikunu jistaw jirrangaw u itaffu ftit il problemi. Il maltemp li jamel go Malta huwa ferm ftit dwar dak li jamel Europa.
Eve Axiaq
Nov 29th 2011, 14:50
Transport Malta l-aqwa li jiehdu l- performance bonuses u hafna perkacci ohra!!
Alexei Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 13:47
singing in the rain ... viva it toroq ...
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 13:38
'Gvern immexxi minni jara li B'kara, Hal Qormi u l-Imsida ma jerqux'
Qabzitlu din fil-budget speech! Issa kieku qala x'konna nghidu? Li hi soluzjoni, li hi promessa jew li hi biss xewqa biex jidher gustuz minghajr ma joffri l-ebda twegiba meta mistoqsi il-famuza kelma 'Kif?'
Godwin Cassar
Nov 29th 2011, 13:10
Saturday, March 5, 2011 , by
Juan Ameen
11-km flood-relief tunnel for central areas approved
An 11-kilometre-long tunnel that forms part of a multi-million euro flood relief project aimed at diverting rainwater in villages prone to flooding has been given the go-ahead by the planning authority.
The tunnel will run through the valleys and urban areas of Birkirkara, Msida, Wied is-Sewda, Attard, Lija, Balzan and Gżira, directing the water towards Marsamxett and discharging it at Ta’ Xbiex.
DAVID D. PACE
Nov 29th 2011, 12:56
ghandek skuza valida illum Dr. Gatt:)
Stephen Mangion
Nov 29th 2011, 12:50
Xi dwejjaq ta pajjiz
Ganni Sciberras
Nov 29th 2011, 12:44
Da Xkien qataw tat temp illum? ghax dejjem bix xita u ma tasal qatt!!!!!
A Cachia
Nov 29th 2011, 13:03
They said it was going to be partly cloudy......does it look like that to you :) ?
Mr raynond ciancio
Nov 29th 2011, 13:10
ghax kien qed igemmahha u il lum tajilna kollha f'daqqa
Pauline Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 12:43
Wow impressive... do you really have to put politics in every equation???
The problem is that the valleys are built up, if not all, most of them. That is the only blame that can be put on political parties, building everywhere without taking into consideration the natural environment and the water cycle! (as long as money is flowing and someone is getting rich.. anything goes right!)
Mr raynond ciancio
Nov 29th 2011, 12:42
live and let live guys, arriva has the first valid excuse for being late, let them enjoy it for the day at least. they are singing in the rain.
Marija Falzon
Nov 29th 2011, 12:40
il-vapur tal-art
John Dee
Nov 29th 2011, 12:40
21st century - drainage systems, flood drains, relief tunnels (we've just read how good we are at tunnelling in an earlier article), and flood storage ponds, intelligent planning for buildings and roads. Fixed!
Reinhard Azzopardi
Nov 29th 2011, 12:33
I drive the best 4x4xfar and I'm not complaining :-)
Joseph Sammut
Nov 29th 2011, 14:41
Ghalek Il-baqra tinbieh kolla. As your the best, hmm......
Anthony Mizzi
Nov 29th 2011, 12:33
Kif bejn in 1996 u 1998 kien hareg is-Sindku ta' Birkirkara u MP Nazzjonalista Dr. Michael Axiaq , fost ohrajn, iwahhal fil -Gvern tal-Gurnata .. ta' dak iz-zmien ghal l'gharaghar ma kull halba xita...... u illum 20 sena wara, bil-Gvern tieghu u ma johrog jghid xejn?????
Jennifer Cosaitis
Nov 29th 2011, 12:32
The bus service does not need rain to be delayed on most routes
Frans Aguis
Nov 29th 2011, 12:27
Note to self : Beware of Hal Lija.Tajd ma inqalax xi sprall
Ian Bugeja
Nov 29th 2011, 12:25
before complaining on flooding I guess most home owners should look at their home and start collecting the rain water that falls on their roofs to their local reservoirs - unfortunately few do this
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 29th 2011, 12:21
Flooded roads! What a surprise!!
raymond scicluna
Nov 29th 2011, 12:57
Don t tell me that you are still enjoying just Rai 1 and TVM and that you don t avail of internet cause flooded streets are everywhere. I guess you wont to blame it on the government. It s so easy and if your roof leaks, it s the governent's inefficiency too!!
Reinhard Azzopardi
Nov 29th 2011, 13:04
@Raymond Scicluna
You forgot to add a point too. If the sun refuses to shine tomorrow, it's Gonzi's fault too :)
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 29th 2011, 12:20
Thomas Vella.....X'ser johrog fl-elezzjoni, li l-ilma tax-xita jinzel fil-widien? Xi skoperta gdida din? Fejn tridu jmur l-ilma tax-xita, jitla' 'l fuq?
Gordon Galea
Nov 29th 2011, 12:36
Well said Joseph - some people are amazing!
Martin Cole
Nov 29th 2011, 12:15
I wonder if the Government can come up with a tender for a pilot scheme based on a couple of reservoirs in Msida Birkirkara where Engineers can get at least use part of the water coming from these heavy downpours and have a mechanism to filter/distribute this water. It will not solve the flooding but may buy time for some flooding areas and alleviate some irrigation areas using the reservoir. We do not need a 'Big bang' solution like the Arriva setup but a planned introduction of a long term solution for the flooding areas. Ideas that have failed which the general public cries out for should be explained on the MRA government site so as to show government action (does not matter which government) on Eco projects in this particular area. As we move into a time when rainfall is unpredictable and Malta's water needs continue to grow, reservoirs and alternative energy means (to power reverse osmosis plants) are critical to minimizing hardship for the population.
Stuart Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 12:11
Ule mela edin tajjeb..kullhadd jifem aw malta ta...et tatu it tort il gvern mela dak alla u meta jrid jazel li tereq malta..come on tkunux tfal zar titajru ax vera tal mikey mouse ta...
Shaun Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 12:07
Stop grumbling. I would not have build houses in valleys to start with, or at least not buy houses where it floods.
Ms.D. Galea
Nov 29th 2011, 11:53
The problem of flooding dates back to the early sixties when permits started being approved for building to take place in the Valley Road region.
Ben Agius
Nov 29th 2011, 11:43
It is a pity how many comments are based on politics. One sometimes think the Maltese deserve what they get. This yearly event only happens because of poor or non existent infrastructure. It is the fault of many years of neglect or lack of money or brains or both by all Governments since the war. Even today roads that were built 30 to 40 years ago are being just surfaced for the first time without any drainage systems for rain water. That's the problem. Has nothing to do with huge floods overseas and all the rest. That's one thing Malta doesn't have to worry about - no rivers will ever burst their banks. It's going to cost lots of money to really fix the problem as underground systems have to be built to cover up the plain stupid mistakes of planning roads and villages in valleys.
S. Zammit
Nov 29th 2011, 11:40
No government should be blamed for natural occurances. Its true that rain water should be stored and used wisely but come on, blame the Government??
Thomas Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 11:44
Yes blame the goverment for the bad system and roads we have
Ms Maria Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 11:54
don't bother all bad things happen in Malta because of the Government. Perhaps people should refrain from building in Valleys......that should be a thought
Mr Stanley Fenech
Nov 29th 2011, 11:55
No one can blame any government for any rainfall, but it is a BIG YES to blame governments that disregard the calls in past years indicating the water passages (especially torrential ones such as the B'Kara, Msida, Iklin, Qormi) and keep issuing permits to build in these areas, and even worse completely disregard possible solutions to direct and capture heavy waters to avoid damage and possible human loss. Don't think it is far fetched as we experienced human losses due to water currents in heavy rains.
Mr A Grech
Nov 29th 2011, 12:15
ifhem il gvern jigbor taxxi b modi differenti minand il popolazjoni kolla, biex irendija l ura fi progetti kbar li jghinu l popolazjoni. li ammont ta irhula fil qalba ta malta ma jkunux taht l ilma jghinu kemm l min joqod hemm, jaddi min hemm, u jahdem hemm
Censu Filgolli
Nov 29th 2011, 11:38
Kulhadd espert hawn... min kontra il-blu, min kontra l-ahmar... u kollha issahhnu is-siggu ta tahtkom...
Andre Cilia
Nov 29th 2011, 12:23
Int ragel xbin...
Bernard Storace
Nov 29th 2011, 11:27
A number of water catchment areas should be dug out where rain water accumulates on its way to lower ground. Water trapped in this way will then be pumped out to reservoirs from where it will be distributed.......eventually.
Thomas Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 11:03
Dejjem l-istess storja go fal pajjiz. Qadt ma jaghmel xej fuqa il gvern, nghumu bil karozza nispiccaw u traffic kullimkien. Ahjar jara kif ha jaffacja daw is sitwazzjonijiet li kulhadd jbaghti minnhom mux qied hemm ghalxej ax kemm ilu fil gvern ghadni ma rajtx progress jin ta xej ghanzi waqajna iktar lura !!!
L-elezjoni li jmiss johorgu il fatti !
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Nov 29th 2011, 11:18
jien smajt li ha jzid xi haga mal budget, ha jqassam boats zghar lil kull familja biex ninqdew fil maltemp, mhux tajjeb jew!!!!
John Said
Nov 29th 2011, 11:33
Go get alive. Or at least go for a drive around Malta, jew tohrog biss fix xita int!!! Cause form your comment it seems you have been locked up for at least 30 years!
Thomas Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 11:43
@ Xaxa
Hemm xi hidden charges imma jew xi taxxi fuqhom ?
Thomas Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 11:47
@John
I stay inside when it's sunny to study some english, ohh wait I think you should do same or you used to miss school when it rained ?
Gordon Galea
Nov 29th 2011, 12:18
@ Thomas Vella - We really could do without people like you who judge progress only through traffic, flooding and other cucati - it's a pity that you have the right to vote really cause people like you jeopardise the future of a country (hunters being another classic example). Through your reasoning, the govt (irrelevant if PN or LP or otherwise) has done nothing to safe guard national interest? I think you would not be able to drive a car if they didn't, because you wouldn't have enough money to buy one in the first place.
Salvinu Buttigieg
Nov 29th 2011, 10:59
Thats one area i would never ever invest in a property, i can still remember the area of valley road Msida the late 50's and this will never change. When its dry its lovely but when it rains deluge boy even Noah's ark would sink.
John Scerri
Nov 29th 2011, 10:49
Mela hoi ...........Kollu tort ta Gonzi dan.....Hey..... Father Joseph Christmas ...ghandek xi soluzjoni ghal din ??
Gvern immexxi minnek ser jizgura li ma jkollnix flooding ? :0))
W Cassar
Nov 29th 2011, 11:00
Oh well its never the fault of a government in power for 3 decades of course not! Meh!
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Nov 29th 2011, 11:17
inzel nizla sa Bormla this morning , u taf kemm jadilek malajr l aptit li tparla fil vojt habib.
Bi traskuragni tal gvern tal beato gonzi, hallew lil bormla qiesek qeda go pajjiz bi gwerra. beato gonzi ma jahtix ghax xita u zgur li le, imma ghad dizastru tat toroq li hawn iva my friend.jahti u kif.
John Scerri
Nov 29th 2011, 12:17
..................u gvern immexxi minnhek jassigura li ma jkunx hemm hofor fit toroq ta Bormla u tappieri maqlughin
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Nov 29th 2011, 12:47
Gvern imexxi minni? lol le hi jien miniex mp...... imma istra thanks ta fuq il comment tieghek qiesni qed naqbad nithajjar, hasra li miniex pn, ghax kieku jkolli 500euro extra fil gimgha hux.
Taf x ha jaghmlu go Bormla mhux imbilli qed tparla? ha jirangaw it triq ta malajr, minhabba il festa, laqa concos, u ejja ha morru, wara il festa jergu jkissru kollox halli jkomplu ix xoghol sura ta nies, issa ejdli ftit sur Scerri, dan mhux hela ta flus mit taxxa tieghi u tieghek? Ghax ma hadmux b' responsabilita u serjeta u ghamlu min kollox halli it toroq li qalu jigi irrangati in time, imma bilhaq insejt li Bormla parti mil Kottonera !!!
M Vella***
Nov 29th 2011, 10:46
Rain is a gift from God,always be grateful for it,ask the farmer .
Peter Murray
Nov 29th 2011, 11:10
Yes it is sir, but it is also responsible for a great many deaths worldwide on an annual basis-sad to say!
Pat Hobson
Nov 29th 2011, 12:11
It is a gift when it's moderate. When it's heavy, it's a curse!
John Said
Nov 29th 2011, 10:28
The flooding problem was created when some intelegent people decided to build roads and houses in valleys,which by the way these were created naturaly millions of years ago by the water itself. So nobody can fix this problem unless they knock down Birkirkara, Msida and Qormi. In Mosta there is also a valley but there is no road on the valley bad, and therefore there is no majour flooding like these other places.
To solve this problem there need to be huge tunnels under these majour roads, which would cost hudreds of millions, plus they would take many years to build, and this would not be feasable since they would be used maybe 3 or 4 times a year. Just avoid these areas when it rains heavily.
Mario Francalanza
Nov 29th 2011, 10:55
well said
Mr John Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 10:07
I would build a reservoir and underground tunnels, then hook up a hydroelectric generator and let the flooding pay for itself!
Michael Attard
Nov 29th 2011, 10:33
for the little rain that we get :/ Not really worth pumping the money into something which will be used a few times yearly, let alone the maintenance needed and frequent check ups :/.
Gordon Farrugia
Nov 29th 2011, 10:36
and who will pay for the hydroelectric generator and underground tunnels - the almost bankrupt EU!?? :)
charles fenech
Nov 29th 2011, 10:38
Another post without thinking if it's feasible. Think before you shoot ideas!
alfred seguna
Nov 29th 2011, 09:55
aa
Pauline Peterson
Nov 29th 2011, 09:52
And we are expected to wade across the road to the bus stop near McDonald's !!!!!!! It was easier when the Birkirkara Terminus was there and operating.
Anthony Farrugia
Nov 29th 2011, 09:49
The next large infrastructure project should be flood protection and avoiding loss of rain water. There should be EU funds for such a project. This would also reduce reliance on reverse osmosis plants and reduce their electricity consumption.
Robert Cassar
Nov 29th 2011, 10:02
100% Agreed!!
Mr A Grech
Nov 29th 2011, 10:13
Well, doesn't take a lot of thought to come up with a short list of conflicting issues to back this up
Lack of water:
- Monitoring boreholes to add a level of control
- An island depending on desalination for potable water
Abundance of water:
- The geology of the island already does the job of channeling rainwater to a few places
- A few days of rain generate numerous gallons of water which can be used for a number of applications simply by filtering debris
Godwin Cassar
Nov 29th 2011, 10:16
The flood relief project is already underway by the Ministry for Resources with EU funding.
Carlos Espinal
Nov 29th 2011, 10:24
THIS!!!!
Eric Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 09:48
No infrastructure can cope with heavy torrential rains or heavy downpours. It's simple mathematics. A 15 minutes heavy downpour covering the size of half of Malta, having to be channelled through 10 to 12 routes (valleys) along the island will always result in flooding. Matters are made worst when valleys are obstructed with construction. Heavy rain is heavy rain and there is no escaping it.
Coincidentally I could not help note the ridiculous distinction between MIA's mild weather report and Meteoweb's alarm. Who to beleive ? A good look through the window and I tend to prefer the latter.
Luke Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 09:46
Usual story. The island of Malta - 1 day of raining and it gets flooded. In the UK - raining all year and it does NOT get flooded. Is there something wrong ?
Eric Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 10:08
The UK's massive fertile land soaks up the rain while in Malta half the island is surfaced with concrete.
N P. Debono
Nov 29th 2011, 10:10
Mela you never watch the news?!
Eric Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 10:11
Having said that, no country is immune to the forces of nature and certain parts of the UK are no exception.
Just Google pictures "UK flooding" and you will see for yourself.
Steve Busuttil
Nov 29th 2011, 10:17
It does flood in the UK, you might want to engage brain before making such statements!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/8709021/Flash-floods-hit-southern-England.html
Mr Eric Gahn
Nov 29th 2011, 10:18
Indeed there is - your comment. Malta is known to get a substantial percentage of its annual rainfall in a short period of time whereas the UK sees a steady rate. Furthermore if you care to read foreign news, and maybe live in th Uk for more than a week's holiday, you will know that there have been instances when low lying areas in teh UK experienced heavy flooding.
The major problem in Malta is (as Eric Camilleri also blogs here) is that what natural drainage there is, is built and/or blocked. man against nature. Guess who always looses.
Neil Bugeja
Nov 29th 2011, 10:22
While I completely agree with the fact that the road planning in Malta is terrible as per water-drainage and safety, in the UK the rain is much lighter and much less than in Malta....The UK have constant, light rain that allows water to be safely drained......
Again, if the roads were planned properly, we would have much less problems
M Muscat
Nov 29th 2011, 10:24
Yes your logic.
In the uk it drizzles all year, while in Malta we have most of the water concentrated in a few hours of rainfall.
Mark Vassallo
Nov 29th 2011, 10:29
first Luke go and buy a TV, then try to watch some international news and you will find out if other countries
suffer floods including UK. at least in Malta we do not have the problem to shut down schools etc... etc... etc...
Michael Bugeja
Nov 29th 2011, 10:38
Correction ,just an hour heavy downpour, it needs to flood our roads,as they say some countries have the natural greens eg. forests, we have concrete jungles, and, to top them all the valleys are also have been built. Viva l-progress u l-mepa
John Scerri
Nov 29th 2011, 10:45
yes ...your reasoning is wrong
Luke Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 11:07
I understand your comments but still a small island like Malta should be the last place to be flooded since we're surrounded by the sea and good planning in road infrastructure would not cause all the chaos and damage that we are having during this time every year.
Dominic Chircop
Nov 29th 2011, 09:37
Given Malta's sheer small size, we ought to have coastal engineers, and not merely architects, on road building projects.
A small development in the middle of the island will perforce have an effect on waterflows, channelling into faster streams, etc.
The Msida, Qormi and Birkirkara flooding have now been with us for over 50 years. No government has ever succeeded in finding a solution. Indeed, one particular government managed to make the sea at Msida come up onto the surrounding areas !! We then used to call them Rivers of Moses !!!
carlos ellul
Nov 29th 2011, 09:17
Time and time again we're facing this problem which ends up disrupting our traffic and public transport network. What's the point of having a 5 star public transport if it gets disrupted by 2 hours of heavy rain@?
Joe Muscat
Nov 29th 2011, 09:25
5 STAR PUBLIC TRANSPORT? Try again.....!
laurent caruana
Nov 29th 2011, 09:30
What has Arriva got to do with Mother Nature?
Richard Curmi
Nov 29th 2011, 09:42
it called NATURE and no one can stop it. Be thankful we do not large scale natural disasters.
carlos ellul
Nov 29th 2011, 09:45
My criticism was not towards Arriva but our poor roads.
Christian Sciberras
Nov 29th 2011, 09:55
Uhm, if you want to put the blame on some one, put it on TM and the Waterworks...ie, the guys that believe Malta doesn't need a proper drainage system.
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 29th 2011, 12:24
Ever heard of drains in roads?
Ben Agius
Nov 29th 2011, 09:15
Obviously successive Governments never heard of drains built to take most of the water! So much for improvements in infrastructure and the world class roads that are always promised but never delivered.
W Cassar
Nov 29th 2011, 09:36
The Knights did. Talk about progress lol
Carmel Cilia
Nov 29th 2011, 09:39
Yes successive governments ;You are right but do you know the amount of buildings erected in the last 25 years my friend. The money imposed on building permits should have been used to make safe our roads. Instead those monies were used to make good for the excesses by the government: you know 35 million euros in the last three years for consultants alone: The wages of chairpersons of authorities reaching the 80s and 90 thousands of euros. and the result is there for all to see: millions of gallons of rain water going down the drain causing damages in the process whilst then we have to pay to extract that same water from the sea.
'Gennata mil-kbar'. Viva l-esperti. Viva l-politikanti.
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Nov 29th 2011, 09:51
Why do you have to involve politics in everything. Thank GOD that we are living in Malta and we hardly have any weather problems. Do you never watch news about other countries a stone throw away from us. I am not referring to Bangkok, I am referring to Messina in Sicily.
Anyhow if you blame GONZI all you have to do wait another few months and then Muscat will fix eveything in no time, but in the meantime relax and let us enjoy and reap the benefits of the ongoing projects that should materialise in time for the next elections.
Kemm Baqalna Naqtaghu Zigarelli.
Did you know about the miserable wages of Doctors in Czech Repblic, a country far more developed than ours.
And yet we grumble. Sometimeis I say to myself How do we manage to make a decent living in such a small country like ours. Yes whether you like it or not Malta is making significant progress and the fact that the EU will not consider our country for maximum funding is ample proof of the progress Malta achieved.
I only pray to GOD that any change in government, Malta at least will not lose the momentum of success, because after all My Country comes before any political party.
N P. Debono
Nov 29th 2011, 10:09
@ Henry Fenech Azzopardi - Very well said!
Mr Eric Gahn
Nov 29th 2011, 10:29
@Henry Fenech Azzopardi. I notice that you capitalize GOD and GONZI. Is it because they represent one and the same thing in your opinion?
Pauline Camilleri
Nov 29th 2011, 12:51
@ W Cassar, the knights built wells underneath their houses because they recognized the problem of lack of water in Malta (they didn't have reverse osmosis... rain water was their only solution)
@ Henry Fenech, do you seriously think that progress is equivalent to the number of ribbons that are cut? the next ribbon is going to be when the new parliament opens (waste of money, the current one serves its duty well enough), the next when the theatre without a roof (another useless expense) and the last one the new City Gate (another waste of money, considering that a little refurbishment of the former would have gone a long way and would cost much less). Do you call this progress?? the money wasted in these projects (to put Gonzi in History Books) would have been more fruitful if invested in photovoltaic panels on top of all the University's roof tops and those of Mater Dei. We would have quite a large harvest of electricity when the sun shines and it would reduce the load from the power stations....
Roberta Zahra
Nov 29th 2011, 09:05
These weather alerts have been issued by MeteoWeb since yesterday evening!!!! The CPD should have issued the alert earlier in my opinion!!!