The authorities of Mater Dei Hospital are investigating why standby power generators did not kick in immediately this morning when the hospital suffered a power cut.

A spokesman for the hospital told timesofmalta.com that power failed at 10.35 a.m. and services were running again 12 minutes later. He clarified that no operations were put off because of the cut.

The spokesman said that it appeared that the generators had not kicked in immediately because the power cut was not caused from Enemalta's end but due to a malfunction within the hospital itself.

The Secretariat for Health said in a statement later that the power cut was caused by problems in the hospital's own Power Network Control Center.

It said that where most needed, the Uninterrupted Power Supply equipment was used.

An internal inquiry is under way.