The Mayor of Msida, Clifton Grima, said today that the central government should allocate more funds to flood-prone localities such as his.

Speaking as a clean-up got under way after this morning's rainwater flooding, Mr Grima told a press conference that local councils in low-lying areas did not have sufficient funds to deal with flooding.

Heavy rainfall, he said, invariable resulted in several houses being flooded and streets being filled with debris. Road surfaces and signage were also damaged sometimes.

With regard to Msida, Mr Grima said the government could do more to prevent flooding, such as by the proper maintenance of two reservoirs on either side of Valley Road which are meant to take water as it flows down towards Msida.

He said he did not know what had become of a major flood relief project announced by the government last year and which was to involve a system of galleries to carry the water from Birkirkara, Balzan and other areas instead of having it flow to Msida.

Picture - A Stafrace - mynews@timesofmalta.comPicture - A Stafrace - mynews@timesofmalta.com

During the Mayor's press conference, the owner of a white Ford Fiesta turned up, expressing amazement and anger as he found that his car had been carried by the rainwater down from Ghajn tal-ħasselin and dumped on top of a Skoda in Msida square.

Close to the two cars, one of the traffic light poles was bent, either by the force of the water or a car running into it. A badly damaged motorcycle, also carried by the water, was close by.

Large stones and other debris carried by the water could be seen everywhere.

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