Some businesses in Magħtab and the surrounding areas have suffered damage following the fireworks factory explosion this morning, mainly consisting of broken glass.

On Monday (today), people around Malta were woken up by a series of blasts from the fireworks factory at Ta’ Qadi, Salini.

The fireworks factory belongs to the Pyrotechnic Society 11 ta’ Frar of San Ġwann, popularly known as Ta’ Lourdes. It is also used by the Peace Band Club of Naxxar and by a fireworks team from Fontana, Gozo.

So far only minor injuries have been reported.

The police said that the workers of the fireworks factory were all contacted and none were on site at the time of the incident. Two men, aged 67 and 47, both residents of St Paul’s Bay, were in fields in the area at the time of the explosion, and were taken to Mater Dei Hospital to be treated for shock. They suffered minor injuries.

The blast, which was heard as far away as Żurrieq, caused damage to several homes and businesses in the area, with reports of damaged cars, dead animals, and bits of concrete strewn about.

Most of the damage, however, concerned broken windows and apertures.

A broken window at Ta' Cassia Salina Restaurant

The Ta’ Cassia restaurant in Salina suffered damage from the fireworks factory explosion, with owner Sara Attard telling this newsroom that the restaurant suffered damage mainly to doors and windows.

Thankfully there were no injuries she said, but noted that the front door of the restaurant had been blown open, and that some door locks were damaged. In addition, a number of window panes broke, as did some plates.

Some cars outside were also damaged, continued Ms Attard. The next step, she said, is for the restaurant to get in contact with its insurance company.

Paul Ebejjer, Managing Director of Marine Services Ltd, said that the company’s boatyard in Magħtab suffered some broken windows and broken glass, while one of the big garage doors was “pulled off its support.” However, there was no damage to the boats, he said.

Richard Bilocca, CEO of Wasteserv, said the company was still assessing the various facilities within the complex at Magħtab, and so far only minor damages of a cosmetic nature were found. He said some workers did suffer from shock but were treated by in house medical staff.

Over in Qawra, the door of The Vineyard Malta was broken off its frame, and some of the major hotels along Dawret il-Qawra reported minor damages.

Luckily, garden centres like Piscopo Gardens and Ta’ Wiġi Garden Centre reported no damage, as did Sport House Burmarrad.

Additional reporting by Robert Fenech, Nicole Zammit