Court experts, someof them wearing protective clothing, this morning held an inquiry at St Catherine Fireworks Factory near Marsaxlokk while the victim of last Tuesday's explosion continued to battle for his life.

John Abela, 62, suffered severe burns covering over 90 per cent of his body during the explosion. He had his right leg amputated and was given the Last Rites yesterday as his condition remained critical.

Mr Abela was preparing fireworks for the upcoming Żejtun feast in June together with his 39-year-old son, Salvu, Mario Farrugia, 29, of Żejtun and Anthony Farrugia, 42, of Fgura, who escaped unharmed. A fifth man who was also in the factory, Pierre Mifsud, 33, of Żejtun, was not so lucky and burnt his hand.

Mr Abela, known to his friends as Ġanni s-Sagristan, two years ago retired from his post as sacristan in the Żejtun parish.

Żejtun archpriest Fr Eric Overend described him as a simple and calm person. "He was very active in the community and was sacristan for 40 years. The news of the explosion shocked me."

Fr Overend said it was too early to say whether the feast of St Catherine's would be cancelled. "In 40 years, there was never an explosion at the fireworks factory. Right now there is a feeling of shock and not of excitement for the feast. We have to see how things work out."

Mr Abela was working in a small room under a carob tree when the explosion took place at about 10 a.m.

The explosion might have been triggered by a chemical reaction in the explosives, police sources said.