Fireworks enthusiasts are baffled by what went wrong when three massive explosions at the Mosta fireworks factory claimed the life of 41-year-old Mario Dimech on Friday.

This was the first time a fireworks tragedy occurred so close to a feast, when the works were "completed" and the fireworks were only being transported.

A source told The Sunday Times that incidents at this point of the fireworks process were generally unheard of as this was not the dangerous part of the manufacturing.

Shocked Mosta residents were still hoping to find Mr Dimech alive until early yesterday, according to Nicolo Isourd Band Club president Zaren Vassallo.

However, all hope fizzled out at 8 a.m. yesterday when his body was found completely burned among the debris in the centre of the explosion, Mr Vassallo said.

Mr Dimech was the only person at the factory, as the other 13 people working at the factory were out eating. They were meant to join him later.

Investigations were finding difficulty establishing the cause of the explosion, Mr Vassallo said.

"It could be that he was loading the fireworks and dropped one - anything is possible. However, what is certain is he wasn't working on any of the fireworks," he continued.

The August 15 fireworks factory was renowned for its safety standards, according to Michael Falzon, legal advisor for the Malta Pyrotechnics Society. This made the incident all the more shocking.

"It's a mystery to everyone. Only Mr Dimech knows what happened at this point," Mr Falzon said.

When asked whether a bad batch of fireworks could have been produced, which could have triggered the explosion, Mr Falzon said there was "nothing wrong" with the fireworks.

Several fireworks enthusiasts voiced their concern, saying once works were completed there was no problem with heat and humidity, which usually kept them from working in the summer afternoon sun.

"We hope investigations reveal a cause that may perhaps serve as a lesson to all of us," one enthusiast said.

"I think the workers are lucky there wasn't anyone else there," another enthusiast said, adding it was too early to speculate as to what could have gone wrong.

Today's external celebrations of the Santa Maria feast in Mosta have been cancelled following the tragedy and a quiet rosary reciting pilgrimage up to the fountain will be carried out instead.

The fireworks that were already laid out for firing will be let off in a display lasting 15 minutes at Mosta at 9 p.m. tonight.

The decision was taken unanimously during a meeting involving the archpriest, the feast commission, the police, and representatives of Nicolo Isourd and Santa Marija societies and the 15th August fireworks factory, who concluded it would be more dangerous to dismantle them and transport them off-site, especially as there was no factory to take them to.

A statement sent out by the parish explained that while ground fireworks were being safely removed, it was too dangerous to remove other fireworks, and these would be let off today.

Mr Vassallo explained how this incident further brought independent Mosta societies closer together.

Mr Dimech's funeral will take place on Tuesday.