Updated | Girl, 9, in critical condition after St Paul’s Bay rock collapse

Two girls injured in rock collapse at Veccja • Video by Chris Mangion

A nine-year-old girl is in critical condition after she was hit by falling rocks when bathing in St Paul’s Bay, the police have said.

The incident happened at the area known as Tal-Veccja, shortly before midday. Although initial information suggested that only one girl was injured, the police later confirmed that two young girls had been reported as injured.

Police, paramedics and civil protection department were all called on site to rescue the two girls.

One of them was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment, while the second one suffered scratches.

Labour MP Silvio Parnis photographed on site.

Labour MP Silvio Parnis was photographed on site soon after the incident was reported. Parnis is understood to own the overlying property. MaltaToday has been trying to reach the MP for a comment.

According to an elderly eyewitness, the two girls formed part of a group of four children who had been playing in the water.

“There were four children playing in the water … we suddenly heard a strange noise and, looking up, we saw the rocks slowly detaching from the wall and falling into the sea,” she said.

The police confirmed that the two girls had been swimming inside the cove when the rocks fell. It is understood that both girls are Maltese nationals.

Witnesses on site told MaltaToday that residents have been complaining of the area being unsafe for years. One resident insisted that it had been an accident waiting to happen.

“Residents have been complaining about the risk of such a thing happening for years, but our complaints fell on deaf ears. It was an accident waiting to happen. If this were to happen again on a Sunday, the number of persons injured would be much higher,” the resident, who refused to be named, said.