Only more fireworks factories will limit deaths, according to the Maltese Pyrotechnic Society.

The society’s deputy secretary Joe Mangion believes increasing the number of factories for the manufacturing of fireworks will “spread the load” and, as a result, also the danger.

“I know that what I’m saying will come as a shock to many but when you’re in the industry you’ll understand. Spreading the load onto more factories will also spread the danger and result in fewer incidents and deaths,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He was asked for an enthusiast’s reaction to Sunday’s explosion which claimed the life of four men, the youngest just 26 years old, but who all shared a passion for fireworks. “We, who are involved in this industry, know that it is the only solution to reduce deaths,” he said.

He explained that two of the four – Mario Gauci from Munxar and the 26-year-old Bryan Portelli from Nadur – were at the Għarb fireworks factory to manufacture fireworks for their respective feasts. “Had they been granted a permit to have their own factory, they wouldn’t have been there.”

Factory owner George Gatt and Peppi Cini were the other two victims of Sunday’s tragedy.

Mr Mangion said there were some eight pending applications for fireworks factories – four in Malta and four in Gozo.

Birkirkara, Mellieħa, Dingli and Santa Venera in Malta and Fontana, Għarb, Qala and Munxar all have pending applications before the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Mr Mangion said the country should learn a lot from Sunday’s explosion and called on the authorities to issue the pending permits as soon as possible.

He said Gozo had two remaining factories although one of them operated just for one specific feast. “So you can say that there is only one which operates commercially. It’s in Għarb, close to the Qalb ta’ Ġesù one which blew up on Sunday. The fewer factories in Gozo means that Gozitan parishes are going to turn to the fireworks factories in Malta to produce their fireworks,” he said.