.png)
Update | Gharb to propose referendum to residents over fireworks factories, numerous buildings damaged in blast
The Gharb local council in Gozo has resolved to refer a decision over a pending application for a fireworks factory in the area by referendum.
6 September 2010, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
The decision was taken at the end of an emergency council meeting of the Gharb Local Council, in the wake of yesterdy's deadly explosion just a kilometre away from the locality.
In comments to MaltaToday, Gharb Mayor David Apap said that all council members have declared their interest as members of committees related to village festas and fireworks factories, and have asked the Department of Local Councils for guidance.
Gharb is host to three fireworks factories, one of which exploded yesterday, while an application by the Gharb Festa Committee is still pending before the authorities.
Meanwhile the council has advised all residents in the locality to come forward with a list of damages their buildings have suffered as a consequence of the explosion.
The council will guide the residents through an appointed lawyer.
"Although the matter does not really concern the council, we have a number of residents who have come forward to inform us that they have suffered a lot of serious damage to their houses because of the blast," mayor David Apap said.
He went on to explain that some residents have had their walls cracked, while farmers have had their farmhouse structures damaged. Numerous window panes have been broken.
Also, the council has appointed a surveyor to inspect the historical San Dimitri Chapel that is situated just 300 metres away from where the blast happened.
Yesterday's tragic explosion claimed the lives of the owner of the Fontana Brothers factory Ninu Farrugia, 67, his son Noel Farrugia and wife Antoinette, 31 and 27 respectively, who had only been married since May; and Jean-Pierre Azzopardi, 27 from Xewkija.
The explosion happened in the area of Birbuba, next to the St Dimitri chapel.
The other two casualties, Raymond Farrugia, 35 - who is Noel's brother - and Paul Micallef, 32, who is Raymond Farrugia's brother-in-law, were brought separately to Malta by the AFM Air Wing’s helicopter, to be further treated for serious injuries. They were certified to be in danger of dying.
WATCH - Video of explosion's aftermath and extraction of victim from the debris.
More details to follow.
Albert Zammit •
I sincerely hope that it won't be the taxpayer who will face the brunt of these expenses. I, for one, am against such practises and do not want my taxes to go to such ends. Let others, through other means, pay for this. The church, first and foremost.
