It has been 20 years to the day since one of the worst disasters in Malta’s peacetime history: when nine shipyard workers lost their lives in an explosion on the Libyan tanker Um El Faroud at the Malta Drydocks
“The tragedy of the Um El Faroud cannot be easily forgotten. It changed the lives not only of the victims’ families but also of those who were injured. It left a lasting impact even on those that went to work at the yards the day after the explosion and for years to come,” said a spokesman for the General Workers’ Union, marking today’s anniversary.
At 10pm on February 3, 1995, a powerful explosion – believed to have been caused by an accumulation of gas – ripped through the mid- and bow sections of the Um El Faroud, which had entered Dock 3 two days earlier for repairs.
Seven men were instantly killed in the blast, while two more died of their injuries in the days that followed. Eight other workers were treated in hospital, with some carrying their injuries to this day.
“Year after year, when we remember the tragedy, our thoughts go not only to the families that lost their loved ones but also to the families that are still losing their fathers and children at various work places,” said the GWU spokesman.
We hope that this anniversary not only remembers the nine victims but also serves to instil, in both employers and workers, the need to observe health and safety regulations and be vigilant at their workplaces
“We hope that this anniversary not only remembers the nine victims but also serves to instil, in both employers and workers, the need to observe health and safety regulations and be vigilant at their workplaces so as to avoid unnecessary risks.”
A Mass will be held this morning at St Francis church in Valletta to commemorate the victims, and a wreath-laying ceremony will take place in the evening at the Um El Faroud monument in Cospicua.
Today, the stricken vessel lies 30 metres below the surface of the sea close to Wied iż-Żurrieq, where it was scuttled three years after the tragedy. With life quickly blossoming once more on its decks, it has become a major diving attraction and remains a lasting tribute to its victims.