St Julian’s Residents Fear Cresta Quay Excavation

Earthquakes of Concern: St Julian’s Residents Fear the Worst as Cresta Quay Excavation Continues

Standing at the edge of St Julian’s Bay, the sight of heavy machinery clawing at the earth along Cresta Quay is enough to make any resident’s heart skip a beat. The ground tremors, the deafening roar of excavators, and the constant cloud of dust have become the new normal for those living in the vicinity. But for many, it’s not just the noise and the mess that’s causing concern – it’s the fear that their homes could be next to crumble.

Unsettling Shakes

In the heart of Malta’s tourist hub, the excavation works for the proposed Cresta Quay project have been ongoing for months. While the development promises to bring jobs and boost the local economy, it’s also brought an unexpected side effect: earthquakes. Or rather, ‘micro-seismic events’, as the developers and geologists prefer to call them.

Residents have been reporting these ‘events’ since the excavation began. Some describe them as sudden, sharp jolts, others as a low rumble that seems to come from deep within the earth. “It’s like a sudden lurch, like the whole building is shifting,” says Maria, a long-time resident of the area who wishes to keep her last name private. “I’ve started to keep a log of these incidents. It’s happening more and more frequently.”

Geological Concerns

The Maltese Islands are not known for their seismic activity. In fact, they’re considered one of the least seismically active regions in the Mediterranean. But that doesn’t mean they’re immune to earthquakes. The Maltese geological record shows evidence of earthquakes in the past, some of which have caused significant damage.

Dr. Joseph Caruana, a geologist at the University of Malta, acknowledges the residents’ concerns. “The excavation works at Cresta Quay are indeed causing micro-seismic events. These are small, localized earthquakes that occur when the stress on the rock mass exceeds its strength. They’re not uncommon in excavation works, but that doesn’t make them any less worrying.”

Dr. Caruana emphasizes that while these events are currently minor, they could potentially trigger larger, more damaging earthquakes if not properly managed. “The key is to monitor the situation closely and take appropriate measures to mitigate the risk,” he says.

Developer’s Response

The developers of the Cresta Quay project, Tumas Group, have been quick to assure residents that safety is their top priority. They’ve installed seismic monitoring equipment and hired geotechnical engineers to oversee the works and ensure they’re carried out safely.

In a statement, the company said, “We understand and share the residents’ concerns. We’re committed to ensuring that the excavation works are carried out in a manner that minimizes the risk of seismic activity. We’re working closely with our geological experts and following all necessary protocols to ensure the safety of both our workers and the residents.”

However, some residents feel that the developers could be doing more to address their concerns. “We’ve been asking for regular updates, for them to share the data from the seismic monitors, but it’s like pulling teeth,” says another resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “We just want to know what’s going on, what they’re doing to keep us safe.”

The Cresta Quay project is just one of many large-scale developments currently underway in Malta. As the country continues to grow and develop, it’s crucial that we learn from this experience and ensure that safety and sustainability are at the heart of all our plans.

For now, the residents of St Julian’s can only hope that the ground beneath their feet remains stable. They’re calling on the authorities to step in, to ensure that the developers are held accountable and that their concerns are taken seriously.

“We love living here,” says Maria. “But we can’t love it if we’re constantly living in fear. We just want to feel safe in our own homes.”