About 30 immigrants are in the process of being transferred to mobile homes after three canvas tents at the Ħal Far open centre were ripped to shreds last week.

The Times was informed that last Tuesday’s strong winds lashed the immigrants’ “homes” leaving gaping holes and exposing them to the elements.

Until last weekend the immigrants had not been offered alternative accommodation but told they could “sleep on the floor of an empty metal container there”, sources said. Most chose to sleep in the open instead.

When asked if any action had been taken following this incident, the director of the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers, Alexander Tortell, said that “most of the residents were moved to mobile homes within the same open centre”.

Mr Tortell added that all the tents were in the process of being replaced with mobile homes, which provided sturdier shelter for residents.

“Climate-related work and other maintenance are always ongoing given the size of the centre and the large number of residents. Tent and mobile home installation and repairs and undertaken daily, depending on need and availability,” he said.