Updated Friday 11.30am - Rescuers were forced to assist motorists stranded by rainwater as heavy downpour caused chaos in the streets.

A wall collapsed at Sta Venera near one of the tunnel exits on the way to Marsa, almost blocking the busy road.

In Msida, Marsascala and Marsa (close to the cemetery) cars were dragged by the water but no one was injured. 

Roads were also flooded in Swieqi and Siggiewi. However, the water level in Msida has somewhat subsided.

The storm continued sporadically during the night and early morning, causing traffic jams notably in the area of Msida, the Birkirkara bypass the Sta Venera tunnels, San Gwann, Marsa and Paola.

Widespread damage has been reported at traffic lights, exacerbating the traffic chaos.

A power cut was also reported in Marsascala after a lightning strike and some radio stations were off air.

A total of 45 passengers missed their Air Malta flights because they were stuck in traffic, a spokesman for Air Malta said. The flight to Rome was delayed by an hour while the flight to Gatwick was set back by 45 minutes.

"We waited as long as possible but the flights had to leave so as not to set back subsequent flights," a spokesman for the airline said.

A reader heading for the university told Times of Malta: "I am sitting on route bus 37 on my way to University. I have been on this bus for more than 90 minutes from St Paul's Bay and at the moment I have been stuck in 21st September avenue in Naxxar for an hour. We have only been moving a couple of inches every four or five minutes."

Another bus passenger said many passengers got off the bus in Mosta and started walking to their destination as traffic ground to a halt. 

Motorists said it took them one hour 20 minutes to drive from Gharghur to Valletta, a trip which normally takes about 30 minutes.

Writing on Facebook, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said several students were late for school because of the traffic chaos.

"Yes there was a lot of rain, but the country can't keep grinding to a halt because of rain. We also know traffic is already a serious problem even when the weather's fine."

MHRA calls for tough decisions

In a statement, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association noted that many employees reported late for work today because of traffic.

“Some, especially those travelling from the north of Malta, reported commuting time of two hours and over,” it said.

The association stressed that such incidents cost the industry money and the country its reputation and image.

It said it was now time for the government to take some tough decisions on this front.

mynews@timesofmalta.com

Msida was particularly badly hit. Photo: Steve Zammit LupiMsida was particularly badly hit. Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

Msida this morning. Picture - Quline Spiteri - mynews@timesofmalta.comMsida this morning. Picture - Quline Spiteri - mynews@timesofmalta.com

Gridlock on the Paola-Fgura road this morning - mynews@timesofmalta.comGridlock on the Paola-Fgura road this morning - mynews@timesofmalta.com

South-bound traffic in Swieqi was jammed. The area was impassable because of rainwater late yesterday.South-bound traffic in Swieqi was jammed. The area was impassable because of rainwater late yesterday.

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