It was just after midnight when the first calls flooded into the emergency services. A minibus, parked along Triq il-Kurun, was engulfed in a towering inferno, its flames licking the night sky in Mellieħa. The blaze was so intense that it could be seen from as far as Ghadira Bay, casting an eerie orange glow over the usually peaceful seaside town.

The Malta Fire Rescue Service was quick to respond, dispatching two tenders and a water tanker from the nearby Rabat and St. Paul’s Bay stations. Upon arrival, firefighters found the minibus well alight, its metal frame buckling under the heat. It took them over an hour to bring the fire under control and extinguish the blaze completely.

“The fire was fierce,” said a local resident who wished to remain anonymous. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The heat was so intense that it felt like summer in the middle of the night.”

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The minibus, which was parked outside a popular local bar, was completely destroyed. The owner, who declined to comment, will likely face significant financial losses.

Inspector Ian Abela from the Malta Police Force, who was at the scene, confirmed that the fire was not being treated as suspicious. “We believe it was an accident, possibly caused by an electrical fault. However, we’re still investigating to be sure,” he said.

News of the fire spread quickly among Mellieħa’s residents. While some expressed relief that no one was hurt, others voiced concerns about the lack of fire hydrants in the area. “We’ve been asking for fire hydrants for years,” said one resident. “Last night could have been much worse if the fire had spread to nearby buildings.”

Mellieħa Mayor Deo Debattista echoed these concerns. “We need to ensure that our town is as safe as possible. I will be raising this issue with the relevant authorities,” he said.

In the meantime, residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or potential fire hazards to the police on 112.