Hours before New Year's Eve parties were set to kick off, a fault in a truck's hydraulics system caused oil to spill in a long trail on the Coast Road, causing a hazard to motorists.

Early in the afternoon, shortly after the spill, it had already led to a multiple bumper-to-bumper collision, in which about five cars were involved.

To prevent further accidents, the police eventually closed the road from Splash & Fun to Magħtab while the Civil Protection Department covered the spillage with three Land Rovers full of sand.