Naxxar Residents Return Home After Collapse Scare
Naxxar Residents Breathe Sigh of Relief as Evacuation Order Lifted
NAXXAR, Malta – The eerie silence that had enveloped Triq l-Imqassari in Naxxar was finally broken on Tuesday evening as residents began to trickle back into their homes. The street, usually bustling with life, had been eerily quiet since Sunday, when a section of a 19th-century building collapsed, sending shockwaves through the close-knit community and leading to the evacuation of over 100 residents.
Collapse Scare: A Weekend of Uncertainty
Sunday afternoon started like any other for Naxxar residents. Children played in the street, the aroma of Sunday lunch wafted through the air, and the distant hum of the sea provided a soothing backdrop. Then, at around 2:30 PM, a loud rumble echoed through the narrow streets. A section of a three-story building, known locally as ‘Il-Belt il-Kbir’, had collapsed, sending debris crashing onto the street below.
The incident, which thankfully resulted in no injuries, prompted the swift evacuation of residents from 47 homes. The affected area, stretching from Triq l-Imqassari to Triq il-Kappella, was cordoned off, and residents were temporarily housed in nearby schools and community centers. The sudden upheaval was a stark reminder of the fragility of Malta’s built heritage and the potential dangers lurking within its aging structures.
Assessment and Evacuation: A Painstaking Process
The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity. Engineers and architects swarmed the site, assessing the damage and ensuring the safety of the surrounding buildings. The process was painstaking, with each brick and stone examined with meticulous care. Meanwhile, residents waited anxiously, their lives on hold, unsure when – or if – they would be able to return home.
For many, the evacuation was a stark reminder of the 2019 Santa Verna collapse in Rabat, which left several families displaced for months. The memory of that incident hung heavy in the air, adding to the anxiety and uncertainty felt by Naxxar residents.
On Tuesday evening, after what felt like an eternity, the news they had been waiting for finally arrived. The buildings had been deemed safe, and residents were given the green light to return home. The relief was palpable, with many residents embracing each other, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
: Lessons Learned and Steps Taken
As residents began the process of rebuilding their lives, questions remained about what had caused the collapse and what could be done to prevent similar incidents in the future. Heritage Malta, the agency responsible for the protection and preservation of Malta’s built heritage, has promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse.
In the meantime, the incident has served as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for investment in Malta’s aging infrastructure. The government has pledged to allocate more resources for the maintenance and restoration of historic buildings, a move that has been welcomed by heritage advocates and residents alike.
For Naxxar residents, the road to recovery is likely to be a long and challenging one. But as they stood outside their homes on Tuesday evening, the weight of the past few days lifting from their shoulders, they knew that they were stronger together, and that their community would rise from the rubble, just as their homes had.
“We’ve been through a lot, but we’ve come out stronger,” said Mario, a lifelong Naxxar resident. “We’ve seen the worst, and we’ve survived. Now, it’s time to rebuild, not just our homes, but our community too.”
