155 Tonnes Of Debris Collected After Malta’s Record-Breaking Storm
A total of 155 tonnes of debris has been cleared from the streets after a record-breaking storm hit Malta over the weekend with a further 30 tonnes expected to be cleared by the end of Monday night, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a ministerial statement in Parliament earlier today.
The 155 tonnes of debris were collected following the devastating storm which hit Malta over the weekend, with winds reaching 133 kilometres per hour, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has revealed.
Speaking during a ministerial statement, Muscat also said that a further 30 tonnes is expected to be cleared
An exercise to ascertain the total damage is underway, which he said was crucial for the country to apply for funds from the EU Solidarity Fund
Praising the work done by the Civil Protection Department, Armed Forces, Police and the Public Cleansing Department, Muscat said that there had been 486 calls for assistance, with 26 people (14 from Sliema, 12 from Birgu) being evacuated from their homes.
The storm also meant that some localities experienced electrical issues. In fact, the PM revealed that Enemalta had received over 2,000 calls for assistance, 978 of which were identified as cases of damage.
The water mains between Malta and Gozo were also subject to substantial damage, Muscat said, stressing the need for the introduction of reverse osmosis on the sister island.
The LNG tanker, which was often subject to criticism over perceived dangers a storm could cause, did not need to be moved from its moorings.
PN Leader Adrian Delia echoed Muscat’s sentiments in praising all those involved, adding that unlike previous storms on this nature, nobody had lost their lives. He also said that he has instructed his MEPs to work hard to ensure that Malta is given access to the Solidarity Fund.
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