Malta’s Sinking Cities: The Fight for Stability

Imagine buying your dream home in the heart of Malta, only to wake up one morning and find your once-stable house now sits at a jaunty angle, like a sinking ship in the middle of the Mediterranean. This isn’t a scene from a disaster movie, but a reality faced by many homeowners in Malta’s ‘Sinking City’.

Birkirkara, a bustling town in the heart of Malta, has become infamous for its sinkholes. Drive down Triq San Girgor or Triq l-Imqades, and you’ll see houses that seem to be slowly sliding into the earth. Residents here live in a constant state of anxiety, wondering if their home will be the next to succumb to the ground’s shifting sands.

Take the case of Maria, a long-time Birkirkara resident. She bought her house in 2010, only to watch it sink by nearly a meter over the past decade. “I feel like I bought my first home in a sinkhole,” she sighs, standing in her now-tilted living room. “It’s like living in a funhouse, but it’s not funny at all.”

So, what’s causing Malta’s sinkholes? Geologists point to a combination of factors: the island’s limestone bedrock, the weight of heavy buildings, and the impact of heavy rainfall. But many homeowners also blame poor urban planning and construction practices.

“The problem is, no one takes responsibility,” says Joseph, another Birkirkara resident whose home has been affected. “The developers build, the councils approve, and we’re left to pick up the pieces.”

Homeowners like Maria and Joseph are fighting back. They’ve formed groups, like ‘Birkirkara Sinkhole Action’, to pressure the government and local councils to take action. They’re demanding compensation, better construction standards, and stricter planning regulations.

In 2020, the government announced a €20 million fund to help affected homeowners. But many argue it’s not enough, and the application process is too complex. “We’re being told to navigate a labyrinth of bureaucracy while our homes crumble around us,” says Maria.

Malta’s sinkhole crisis is far from over. But there’s hope. The government is investing in geotechnical studies to better understand the problem. Architects and engineers are exploring innovative construction methods to mitigate the risk. And homeowners are determined to keep fighting, to ensure no one else has to ‘buy their first home in a sinkhole’.

“We won’t stop until our homes are safe, and our streets are stable,” says Joseph. “We love Birkirkara, and we want to stay. But we need help to make that possible.”