Massive Explosion Rips Through Malta Fireworks Factory, Injuring Two and Shaking the Island

A powerful explosion tore through the Ta' Lourdes fireworks factory in the Magħtab and Salini area, within the limits of Naxxar, early Monday morning, rattling buildings across large parts of the island and hospitalizing two individuals.

The initial blast occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time, triggering a violent chain reaction of secondary detonations that continued for hours. The force of the explosion sent a massive plume of thick smoke visible from multiple localities across Malta and generated a shockwave felt several kilometers away.

Casualties and Evacuations

Police confirmed that no factory employees were on site when the detonation occurred. However, two men—aged 47 and 67, both residents of St. Paul's Bay—were working in nearby agricultural fields at the time. The blast wave threw them into a state of shock and inflicted minor injuries, prompting an immediate transfer by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital.

First responders, including the Civil Protection Department (CPD), police forces, and military personnel, rushed to the scene. Authorities quickly established a perimeter and organized the evacuation of nearby residents due to the ongoing threat of unexploded pyrotechnics shooting into the air.

Widespread Property Damage

The structural fallout from the shockwave has left neighboring communities on edge.

Residential Areas: Multiple homes in surrounding localities, such as Qawra, suffered shattered windows and blown-out doors, leaving shards of glass strewn across public pavements and roads. Eyewitnesses described the initial tremor as feeling "as if someone had hit the house with a giant hammer."

Agricultural Structural Loss: The Malta Youth in Agriculture (MaYA) Foundation. reported extensive damage to surrounding farms. The Animal Welfare Directorate deployed specialized resources to the area following reports that numerous livestock, including dairy cows, rabbits, and birds, perished in the blast.

Official Reactions

The incident has triggered widespread political and community reactions across the country. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and local political leaders publicly expressed their solidarity with the affected communities while extending gratitude to the emergency services for their rapid response.

The precise cause of the initial detonation remains unknown, and an active investigation by local law enforcement and explosives experts is underway. Authorities have strongly advised the public to strictly avoid the area while cleanup and stabilization efforts continue.