St Julian’s Residents Shaken by Cresta Quay Excavation

Imagine this: you’re sitting in your living room, the evening sun casting a warm glow, when suddenly, your home starts to tremble. Not a gentle shake, but a jarring, unsettling quake. This isn’t a scene from a disaster movie, but a reality for residents of St Julian’s, Malta’s bustling seaside town, thanks to the ongoing excavation at Cresta Quay.

The excavation, part of a multi-million euro development project, has been ongoing for months. But it’s not the sight of heavy machinery or the dust that’s bothering residents. It’s the earthquakes. “It’s like a bomb goes off,” says Maria, a long-time resident of Triq San Giljan. “My windows rattle, my furniture shakes. I live in fear, wondering when the next one will hit.”

The earthquakes, caused by the excavation’s blasting activities, have been happening with increasing frequency. Residents have taken to social media, sharing videos and stories, their fear and frustration palpable. “It’s not just about the noise or the dust,” says another resident, Joseph, who lives on Triq Sant’ Andrija. “This is about our safety, our homes, our lives.”

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has been inundated with complaints. In response, they’ve imposed stricter conditions on the developers, reducing the number of blasts per day and increasing the distance between blasts and residential areas. But for residents, it’s not enough. “We’re still feeling the tremors,” says Maria. “We’re still living in fear.”

The developers, on the other hand, insist they’re doing everything by the book. “We’re following all regulations,” says a spokesperson. “We understand the concerns, but we’re committed to minimizing any disruption.”

Residents have united, forming a Facebook group, ‘St Julian’s Residents Against Cresta Quay Blasting’. They’re demanding a halt to the blasting until proper safety measures are put in place. They’ve also started a petition, which has already gathered hundreds of signatures.

“We’re not against development,” says Joseph. “But it has to be done safely, responsibly. Our homes, our community, they’re not just buildings. They’re our lives, our histories. They’re worth fighting for.”

The battle lines are drawn. On one side, residents demanding safety and peace. On the other, developers pushing ahead with their project. MEPA, caught in the middle, is trying to balance progress with safety. As for the earthquakes, they continue, a constant reminder of the tension that’s dividing St Julian’s.

But the residents are resolute. “We won’t back down,” says Maria. “We’ll keep fighting, keep pushing, until our voices are heard. Until our homes are safe again.”