Videos of rats scrummaging through Malta’s streets have become more and more common. With sightings in Sliema, St Julian’s, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, and more.

In fact, earlier today, Lovin Malta reported on a “colony” of rodents roaming Balluta Bay, leaving several residents frustrated and concerned.

According to Sean Gauci, a St Julian’s councillor, the issue remains unresolved after months of worry, posing significant risks to public health and safety.

Gauci told the newsroom that the Local Council has been repeatedly approached by concerned residents over sightings of “large rat infestations, in turn sharing this concern with the relevant authorities”.

Moreover, local exterminator Arnold Sciberras warned that Malta’s rat population has increased by 13% since 2018, explaining that this has been fuelled by the influx of foreigners and overdevelopment.

The problem first came to light years ago, with reports resurfacing in August of last year, and attention being stirred toward the issue.

Nonetheless, the response from authorities has “fallen short of expectations”.

Borg Bonello said the rats were “just another symptom of the laissez-faire attitude that we’re seeing in every sector of governance.”

She explained that this is symptomatic of a larger issue.

“Local councils have been totally cut off with most of their responsibilities being quietly absorbed by an ever-growing central government,” she said. “If a government isn’t meant to carry out its basic functions like garbage collection and keeping our streets clean, how can we trust it to have a vision catering for the next decades?”

Have you spotted an abundance of rats in your hometown?