Updated with statement from fireworks association, animal welfare
Two men were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital with minor injuries after a powerful explosion tore through the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory in the Magħtab area at around 6:30am on Monday.
A 67-year-old and a 47-year-old, both residents of St Paul’s Bay, were in fields near the factory at the time of the blast and were taken to hospital by ambulance, among others, due to shock.
Both were certified as suffering from minor injuries. Police confirmed that none of the factory’s licensed workers was on site when the explosion occurred.
The blast, which originated at the factory on Triq tal-Qagħdi, was heard from several kilometres away, rattling buildings and shattering windows across large parts of Malta.
Emergency services were dispatched immediately, and police are currently investigating the incident.
Residents in surrounding localities reported hearing the explosion from several kilometres away, while others described feeling the shockwave.
One person who was walking dogs in Kennedy Grove at the time recounted the terrifying experience.
“I was in Kennedy Grove with the dogs when I heard the first bang. At first I thought it was a gas cylinder exploding. Then, about five minutes later, there were three more in quick succession.
“The blasts were so powerful I actually felt my hair move from the pressure wave, and all the trees around us shook. My dogs completely lost it. I’ve never been so scared in my life — for a moment I genuinely thought we were being bombed.”
The witness also reported visible damage in the surrounding area, including smashed windows and loose façade material dislodged from at least one building.
Police, the Civil Protection Department, the Armed Forces of Malta, and medical staff remain on site to ensure the area’s safety, and the public is asked to avoid it.
Magistrate Joe Mifsud is leading the inquiry.
Leaders react to the accident
Political leaders and the President of the European Parliament reacted with concern on Monday morning following the explosion at the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory in Magħtab, expressing solidarity with those affected and praising the emergency services responding at the scene.
Prime Minister Robert Abela said his thoughts were with those affected, adding that officials and workers from the country’s authorities had been dispatched to the scene immediately to assist.
Opposition leader Alex Borg thanked the security forces responding in the Salini area, describing the blast as one that had “shocked the country.” He said his thoughts went to all those affected by the explosion’s force.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said she was struck by an explosion that had “shocked our country,” and extended her thoughts to residents in the surrounding area. She reserved special thanks for Civil Protection members and all those on the ground “in these difficult circumstances.”
Firework associations express solidarity following Magħtab explosion
The Soċjetà Mużikali Peace and the Għaqda tan-Nar Marija Bambina, both of Naxxar, expressed solidarity on Monday with all those affected by the explosion that tore through the Fire Chamber of Our Lady of Lourdes, San Ġwann, within the limits of Naxxar, a facility used by the Marija Bambina pyrotechnicians.
The associations said they were relieved that none of their pyrotechnicians was on site at the time of the blast, and thanked the police, Civil Protection, and Mater Dei emergency crew for their immediate response.
They also thanked all those who expressed solidarity and said they stood with everyone affected at what they described as a difficult moment.
Animal Welfare Directorate on standby to assist animals affected by Magħtab explosion
In a reaction to the incident, the Animal Welfare Directorate said it had deployed resources to the site of the Lourdes Fireworks Factory explosion in Naxxar on Monday morning, standing by to assist any animals affected in the surrounding area.
The directorate extended its thoughts to all those impacted by the blast, including those injured, nearby residents, workers, and farmers.
It said its role was to ensure that animals caught up in the incident were protected and assisted as soon as conditions allowed, with most of its available resources currently focused on the case.
This comes after birds, rabbits and dairy cows were among the animals that perished after an explosion tore through the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory in Magħtab on Monday morning, with farmers and breeders in the surrounding area reporting structural damage to their farms.
As a result, the directorate warned that some other services may experience slight delays and asked for the public’s patience while its teams responded to what it described as an urgent situation.
