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WATCH | Thunderstorm lashes Malta causing widespread flooding and damages
Heavy rains have caused flooding and damages across the Maltese islands. The Civil Protection Department has withdrawn its alert to the general public and asked for caution while driving. Msida, Birkirkara Valley Road, Burmarrad and Qormi are the worst hit localities.
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The Civil Protection Department early this morning issued a statement asking people to stay at home due to heavy rains (This alert has now been withdrawn as flood waters have started to subside and traffic is returning to normal). Night long rains has left its toll in traditional flood areas.. Several reports have reached this portal of flooded flood areas in B’Kara, Msida, Marsa and Qormi. The rainstorms were acerbated by the strong Northwest winds at times noted at 14knots. Satellite images showed the heaviest rains in the early hours of the morning of Monday. Rain is expected to continue until early Wednesday.
Earlier, the department had asked motorists to avoid Msida and Valley Road, Birkirkara, because of the persistent heavy rainfall.
The CPD itself was inundated with calls for assistance.
Flood relief projects have been underway in Malta for years but have failed to solve the massive flooding - caused by ill-thought road development that has taken place over the years without any consideration to rain management. The flooding has also been aggravated by the fact that many agricultural and natural areas have been taken over by urban development.
The Middle Sea Race which entered its third day was severely hampered by the strong rains. The race is led by the maxi yacht Esimit Europa, which at the time of this story was off Pantelleria heading towards Malta at 13.6kts. But most of the other racing boats were still trailing off the North coast of Sicily.
