Thousands In Damages After Fire Spreads Across Field In Malta
A fire that broke out earlier this week in a field led to thousands in material damages, early estimates indicate.
A number of machine items and irrigation tools as well as other items were lost in the blaze.
Malta has been plagued by bushfires since the temperature rose – with a number of reasons, including fireworks, leading to swathes of areas burning down.
Early in June, the central western area of Dwejra – near Rabat and Mġarr – was rocked after a fireworks factory in a rural area suffered a series of explosions that caused mass fires across fields and ridges in the area. Thankfully, the volunteers working there escaped with only slight injuries.
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The culture of petards and sky explosions goes back centuries, when the Knights of St John introduced the concept to the locals.
“The Order which was conventual, aristocratic and military used to celebrate the most important feasts by special pyrotechnic displays. Such firework displays were an expression of rejoicing on special occasions, such as the election of a Grand Master or a Pope, as well as on the birth of a prince,” the Malta Fireworks Festival recounted.
There are some 35 fireworks factories across the island, with volunteers spending countless hours creating these bombs.
However, more and more people are speaking out against the noisy – and potentially dangerous – cultural habit.
Just last month, a family living in Mtarfa – near where the above stray firework landed – spke about being bombarded at 8am with non-visible petards.
Saying it was like they were in a “warzone”, the family lamented the fact that these petards do not even create a bright display, and do nothing more than create a shocking, massive explosive sound that reverberates throughout their village.
Update: Previous references to efforts to raise funds to cover the damages have been removed following requests from the organiser.
Let us know in the comments below what you make of Malta’s fireworks situation
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