Extensive damage to historical bastion, as overweight crane topples backwards

A crane operator made a miraculous escape late yesterday evening as the heavy plant he was manoeuvring toppled backwards due to overweight load, causing extensive damage to the historical bastion beneath the Central Bank in Valletta.

The operator managed to jump out of his cabin just in time as the crane lifted backwards and toppled over under the weight it was lifting.

Throughout the night, the crane was left toppled backwards with its jib hanging over the bastion.

It was removed this morning with the help of another crane, revealing the damage caused to the historical bastion.

A Magisterial inquiry has been ordered.