Fort Ricasoli, the largest fort on the island, was at risk of collapse unless urgent action was taken to safeguard the structure, Wirt il-Kalkara general secretary Duncan Brincat warned.

An entire part of the fort’s outer bastion had been washed away by the sea, creating a cavity in the headland, he said.

“The fort is in a shocking state of dilapidation, which might seal its fate,” Mr Brincat said, adding that emergency works were a must if it was to be saved.

Built by the Knights of the Order of St John between 1670 and 1698, Fort Ricasoli commands the entrance to the Grand Harbour. Decommissioned in the 1960s, the fort has since been used for industry and as a film location. It has been on the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites since 1998.

WATCH: Forts under attack from neglect and vandalism

Parts of the fort’s outer bastions had already been demolished by strong waves, and to exacerbate things, a naturally formed cavity was eroding the headland, Mr Brincat pointed out. A fissure in the structure was also eating away at the square inside.

The fort is in a shocking state of dilapidation, which might seal its fate

The main fortress gate was supported by bolts in stone that was eroding, he warned.

Mr Brincat estimated that emergency works would cost about €50 million, adding that a technical report on the prevailing situation was being drafted.

PHOTOS: A 150-year-old fort waits to be eaten by the sea

The buildings of Fort Ricasoli, which fell under the Lands Authority’s responsibility, had been neglected and were now derelict, Mr Brincat lamented.

A petition calling upon the government to restore the area racked up almost 5,000 signatures in a few weeks. “Through this petition we urged the authorities to safeguard our patrimony by restoring the fortress and finding alternative purposes for it,” Mr Brincat said.

Wirt il-Kalkara proposed that the fort be used as a tourist attraction or by the Malta Film Commission once it is restored.

The NGO has been meeting government entities and met Labour MP Glenn Bedingfield, who, Mr Brincat said, was heading a team tasked with developing a strategy for Cottonera.

Mr Brincat pointed out that Culture Minister Owen Bonnici was aware of the dire state of the fort, adding that the government was willing to continue talks on what needed to be done once the technical report was completed.

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