Council seeks urgent probe over fireworks fears
Hondoq Bay and the quay where fireworks are unloaded.
Updated - Qala Council expressed concern today over the transport of fireworks through the village after it is unloaded from boats at Hondoq ir-Rummien.
It noted that fireworks were unloaded at a time when the bay was full of people, and then driven through the village.
It said that while it did not object to fireworks used in Qala being unloaded on the quay in Qala itself, it objected to have this practice for every feast in Gozo,
Yesterday, Paul Buttigieg, Qala deputy mayor, also called for an urgent investigation into the “alarming allegation” that the fireworks they could be ignited accidentally during transport.
“The authorities should call an urgent meeting with the police and fireworks manufacturers to investigate these allegations,” Paul Buttigieg said, adding that he was extremely concerned.
The Sunday Times reported yesterday that the fireworks trade was increasingly turning away from the traditional method of lighting petards with fuses in favour of electronic initiators or electric matches.
There is the possibility that these could be triggered by accidental impact as the fireworks are carried through the streets on trucks, or even through electromagnetic interference from high voltage cables, strong radio transmitters or even mobile phones.
Safety practice dictates that the initiator should only be attached immediately before detonation but local fireworks enthusiasts often introduce these triggers while building the petards or before leaving the factory.
This issue had been flagged up in a report by the Vella Commission, which in 2011 carried out a comprehensive review of fireworks accidents of the past 30 years and made a series of recommendations, which have so far not been implemented.
When contacted yesterday Mr Buttigieg said he would be raising the issue during the next council meeting. The council, he said, was already looking into what measures it could take to control the amount of fireworks passing through the Gozitan village.
Two years ago he recommended having more drop-off points where fireworks transported by sea from Malta could be offloaded. This would mean smaller quantities of explosives being carried through villages at one time.
He said measures were needed to ensure that fireworks, currently transported in trucks, were carried in safe containers. It is not only fireworks destined for Gozo that are transported in large quantities, often exceeding one ton, but also those set to be let off from barges in the Grand Harbour or in the Sliema/St Julian’s area.
Joe Morana, from the Sliema Residents’ Association, said it was the first he had heard of this hazard and was “very concerned”.
He said he would raise the issue during the next committee meeting to ensure it was looked into.
“The authorities must ensure there is no risk to residents and that fireworks are transported according to safety regulations,” he said.
“I like fireworks but I think we are paying too high a price in terms of human lives for a bit of entertainment. I am ready to live without fireworks if it means saving lives,” he said referring to last week’s explosion at the Għarb fireworks factory when four people were killed.
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38 Comments
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James Tyrrell
Nov 12th 2012, 21:53
Finally the Qala Council have reacted to the problem. What took them so long? It appears to me that the Deputy Mayor is on the ball here and the Mayor and the rest of the council is playing catch up. Good job someone at least is awake!
C Galea
Nov 12th 2012, 18:06
Good news now that the local council has joined in after deputy mayor wrote several letters in the local media .Hopefully the local authorities will listen
Mr Bartolo Edward
Nov 12th 2012, 17:10
If the wires of the electrical fuses are twisted together and have the same length, the induced emf due to EM waves should cancel out. If one still is not satisfied, there are coaxial cables which cannot pick EM signals because both conductors share the same axis.
mario vella
Nov 12th 2012, 16:16
What about the danger to farmers and occupiers of fields nearby firework factories scattered all around the island and in the midst of arable and fertile land? Who will protect them from flying debris, unexploded petards, metal sheets from roofs etc following sudden and unexpected accidents? Are we now assuming that nearby farmers cannot use their mobiles because they may trigger off an explosion?
Simon Abela
Nov 12th 2012, 14:49
Thank God for people tht have common sense..Fire works should be banned unless you are certified professional dleaing in pyrotehcnics.
Simon Abela
Mario Micallef
Nov 12th 2012, 14:48
jidher li ma fihx il-qliegh ghax kieku anke fuq saturn mmorru biex ma jinqatax!!
James Tyrrell
Nov 12th 2012, 14:41
If the Maltese Government sit back and do nothing about this situation then they and they alone will be responsible for all deaths which occur in the future, and they will occur probably sooner rather than later. Why are more people not complaining about these stupid fireworks? Are your lives so unimportant to you that you are willing to risk them for a few bangs and flashes?
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 16:14
You call them few bangs and falshes?
It looks like you dont understand fireworks.
Paul Meilak
Nov 12th 2012, 16:23
If the Maltese Government sit back and do nothing, then we will have a BIG explosion in March.
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:19
And what will be this explosion Mr Meliak?
James Tyrrell
Nov 12th 2012, 21:42
@Mr Mario Zammit. No Mario, I guess I don't understand why people like their little bangs and flashes so much that they are willing to risk their lives and the lives of their families to satisfy their lust. Since most of these things are set off during religious feasts where does the church stand? Are they happy to see more deaths? With graves the price they are I guess they are doing ok out of it
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 14:38
So what solution you are suggestiong?
To transport the fireworks with a helecopter?
Who told you that the transports is not escorted by police cars?
Saviour Sam Agius
Nov 12th 2012, 16:20
So what? As if police escort is gonna stop fireworks from igniting accidentally! What sort of reasoning is this?
Ms charmaine cremona
Nov 12th 2012, 16:29
Oh that puts my mind at rest, if the transport vehicle explodes, even the police would be injured! What difference does it make the presence of police? Does it make it less dangerous? No not by helicopter, not transported at all. It's incredible that we are exposed to such danger for the entertainment of others. Shame
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:14
I was answering Mr STORACE AS HE mentions some changes including the police escort.
Nms Cremona you said NO TRANSPORT AT ALL? So how to transport fireworks from the factory to the display field? Pls answer Me.
Ms charmaine cremona
Nov 12th 2012, 17:55
Ok mela lets be super clear..... As an adult in a free society, I can decide to go and swim with the sharks if I wish to or go and play with lions, if I am mentally sane no one will stop me from practicing my 'hobby' because I am understanding the risks and putting only myself in danger. Transport of highly flammable materials by sea unloaded next to ppl unaware and unwilling to take such risk, or
Ms charmaine cremona
Nov 12th 2012, 18:00
Transport by vehicles in streets puts me and other ppl in danger for the hobby and money making ( in some cases ) of others. That is totally unacceptable, incredibly egoistic and totally absurd. If there isn't a way of making the procedure safe, then I am afraid the answer is stopping all together.
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 21:54
Charmaine,
Who told you that the transport of fireworks is unsafe????
On the same argument are you saying that the transport of fuel in bowsers on our roads are unsafe?
Are you saying that filling your car with fuel is unsafe considering the electrostatic risk?
Johann Tonna
Nov 12th 2012, 22:32
So Ms Cremona, does the transport of GAS and FUEL in public roads make you feel any safer?? They could ignite so easily with electrostatic energy, mobile phones, and by cigarettes thrown away from cars driving ahead!! There was supposed to be a law enforcement about that, but of course no one cares!!
william cauchi
Nov 12th 2012, 12:15
Mark my words. In 3 months time we will be in full election mode, and all would have forgotten all about this.
What would have changed.................nothing. U in-nies tinsa.
Any bets.
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 11:13
Mr. Storace who told yout hat transport of fireworks is not escorted by Police vechicles? Its part of the law and the fireworks factories have to pay for the police duty.
Paul Pulis
Nov 12th 2012, 18:31
Sur Stellini Inti qatt smajt bxi incident li gara waqt li kien qed jingar in-Nar?
Iva. Meta splodiet il-patrol boat u mietu l-pulizija.
Jay Oatmon
Nov 12th 2012, 10:59
Even with the recent deaths - I think common sense will be ignored and nothing concrete will be done. There may be some 'window dressing' changes to the laws which will not be enforced anyway - so I fully expect more deaths next year of the year after.
The government policy is very clear - doing nothing but talking a good story, is the best way to handle tricky problems.
Mario Micallef
Nov 12th 2012, 11:21
Jay Oatmon...give us a break!! can you find something positive amidst all this nonsense you write?
Ramon Mangion
Nov 12th 2012, 14:31
unfortunately we Maltese suffer from the "u Iva" syndrome..
Jay Oatmon
Nov 12th 2012, 18:26
to Mario Micallef
You attitude is part of the problem in my view - you describe my comments about improving safety as nonsense - offering ways to improve safety is not nonsense.
In 1973 I was a fully qualified explosives handler in the oil industry (I still work in the oil industry) - what qualifications do you have regarding explosives?
Mario Micallef
Nov 12th 2012, 20:24
Mr Oatmon,u can keep your qualifications on handling as much as u like,im a licenced firework & i find it very cheeky that u as a foreigner come in this country 2 live trying 2 impose your ideas when u havent got a clue what it entails.first & foremost your suggestion of 1 factory is ridiculous cause u cant understand d competition element that exists.this is our culture not yours!
B. Storace
Nov 12th 2012, 09:35
I propose that the Mayors of all the villages in Gozo join forces on this issue to seek a solution which will be acceptable to all parties. In any case transport of hazardous materials should be escorted by police out-riders along the route and the transport should have a very visible red flag. I also propose that inhabitants along the route(s) are informed of such transport events in good time.
Mario Stellini
Nov 12th 2012, 12:52
Red flags and informing the inhabitants is simply not enough.
For heavens sakes, when a bomb is discovered all the area is usually evacuated. And that bomb is not being transported in a truck going over potholes!!
Why should we continue to permit these people to endanger our lives.
Please, please, take action before it is too late. It could be you or your loved ones who are the next to die!!
Chris Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 13:31
now you are talking good sense. I can tell you that fireworks are transported with police ecsorts. As i have been transporting fireworks for a while now and we have always been with police escorts. And with provided time usually 3 am in the morning to avoid traffic and civilians.
Mario Micallef
Nov 12th 2012, 15:04
Mario ma noqghodux nesageraw issa! ghax bl-istess argument kull karozza hi bomba b'dak l-fuel fit-tank...taf xi trid jcarcarlek naqra l-petrol meta tmur timliha...jkollok xi leak ta elettriku mal-body u taf kif issir il-karozza jew jghaddi xi hadd jpejjep...f'gieh is-sew ghaliex tridu iggibu poplu bla passatempi? poplu bla kultura huwa poplu bla identita!
Mario Stellini
Nov 12th 2012, 15:47
Nahseb li kulhadd jaqbel li karozza li qed ggorr 30 litru petrol u truck li qed ggorr tunellata splossivi ghandom l- istess periklu!!!! U hallina!!!!
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:08
Sur Stellini Inti qatt smajt bxi incident li gara waqt li kien qed jingar in-Nar?
Mario Stellini
Nov 12th 2012, 19:12
Mela ha nistennew ftit iehor halli jkollna tragedja ohra.
Il-fatt li qatt ma gara hekk ma jfissirx li kollox sew u mhux sa jigri hekk. Jien ma nemminx li ghanda noqoghdu nilaghbu l-lottu b'hajjet n-nies.
Jekk int trid tissogra hajtek, ghamel li trid, imma jekk joghgbok tissograx hajjet tan-nies li m'ghandhomx x'jaqsmu mad-"delizzju" tieghek!
william cauchi
Nov 12th 2012, 20:10
Mario Zammit says ''qatt smajt bxi incident li gara waqt li kien qed jingar in-Nar''
Check this and learn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5ThtcqRXDc&noredirect=1
Mr Mario Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 22:13
Jiddispjacini imma ma tafux xintom tghidu, tidhru li ma tifmhux fin-Nar.
william cauchi
Nov 13th 2012, 10:26
Vero Mario Zammit, nammetti li ftit jifhmu fuq il-loghob tan nar.
Imma jekk jisplodi truck fit-triq tieghi ma tanx hemm xtifhem. Inti hawwad li trid f'xi kamra fil kampanja, dik hajtek. Imma umbad iggor tunellata splussiv minn quddiem id-dar tieghi, dak le. Dak qatt.
Mario Stellini
Nov 13th 2012, 13:10
Mr Mario Zammit: "Jiddispjacini imma ma tafux xintom tghidu, tidhru li ma tifmhux fin-Nar."
Your "expertise" in fireworks has until now told us that;
1)Fireworks do not explode whilst being transported. Not true - ask the poor AFM soldiers on that patrol boat that died transporting fireworks
2)That a car full of petrol has the same explosive potential as a truck carrying a ton of fireworks.
Please choose the reason of your report below: