A tremor with a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter Scale would damage five per cent of buildings, and the destruction would double in an earthquake measuring six according to Frederick Ellul, a structural engineer with a doctorate in earthquake engineering.
The risks of an earthquake in Malta are small but Dr Ellul insisted yesterday that this was not sufficient reason to turn a blind eye to the potential of disaster as buildings remain unprotected against seismic activity.
Building regulations drafted in 1995 which took into consideration the need to design particular categories of buildings seismically, have still not been put into force.
Buildings are the main killers when earthquakes strike, which is why constructing resilient structures in earthquake-prone zones is vital. Critics say that lax compliance with existing regulations contributed to the deathtoll - almost 300 people died - in last Monday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake in l'Aquila, Italy.
In Malta, only a few buildings, such as the Delimara power station, can withstand a certain degree of seismic activity.
Dr Ellul is particularly concerned as scores of flimsy apartments, five storeys and over, have replaced traditional houses in recent years making them vulnerable to the effects of tremors and liable to collapse under even moderate ground shaking.
"Unfortunately, these apartments were built for a quick buck, with no quality control. The ones built over garages and on corners could be very exposed. They're like houses on stilts," the UK-based expert told The Sunday Times.
Dr Ellul expressed incredulity that big buildings housing many people, like new schools, were still not being designed to withstand tremors.
"Neighbouring Reggio Calabria introduced regulations to protect buildings against earthquakes a century ago. Why can't we do likewise? History has shown that Malta is not immune to tremors - it's not a question of whether an earthquake will ever hit us, it's when," he said.
Architect Denis Camilleri, author of the study 'Malta's Risk Minimisation to Earthquake, Volcanic and Tsunami Damage', said the country could not afford to wait for a major disaster before beefing up strategic preparedness and mitigation management.
Studies in areas hit by earthquakes show that buildings constructed in the way they are built in Malta led to the collapse of walls, with ceilings falling down crushing whatever was below.
Mr Camilleri has also drawn up a study, 'Risks in High Rise Buildings' for the Malta Insurance Association to try to study the impact on buildings in case of an earthquake among other perils.
He said the majority of residential buildings in Malta were made with unreinforced masonry, while light and seismic resistance materials were rarely used to keep costs down.
No precautions can be taken against earthquakes of a certain magnitude but the repercussions of a relatively small scale event on unprotected buildings might prove disastrous.
Ultimately, the impact of a tremor depends on a number of factors, according to Pauline Galea, head of the University's Seismic Monitoring Unit.
There have been six strong reported earthquakes in Malta, which have caused some damage, the last in 1923. The Maltese islands are perceived to have a low seismicity but there have been large magnitude earthquakes in the surrounding areas - especially in southern Greece and in the Sicily. All these could shake the country.
The impact of a tremor depends on its epicentre. However, Dr Galea said a tremor higher than six on the Richter scale in Malta was unlikely.
Still, the area around the island is moderately active, with up to 10 shakes a month sometimes recorded at the seismic unit.
"Though we don't anticipate a repeat of what happened in Italy this week, we cannot say the risk is zero. We can't be complacent," Dr Galea said.
Earthquake damage in Malta and Gozo
December 10, 1542: Some one-floor dwellings collapsed.
January 11, 1693: The most damaging earthquake known to date. Mdina cathedral suffered partial collapse and many buildings in the old city were seriously damaged. Reports say that all houses in Valletta needed repair, and some churches collapsed. Inhabitants spent nights outside their homes.
February 20, 1743: Several churches damaged; many sections of hills in Gozo crumbled.
October 12, 1856: Almost all houses in Valletta, and many houses in other villages and Gozo sustained serious cracks to their walls. Many church domes were damaged. References to collapse of a chapel on Filfla.
August 27, 1886: The Court of Justice in Valletta, some churches and many buildings are damaged.
September 30, 1911: Many houses suffer significant damage. Several rural constructions destroyed. Major cracks appear in domes and steeples of several churches as well as the walls of several public buildings in Victoria. Some landslides reported. In Gozo, everybody abandons their homes.
September 18, 1923: Cracks in church domes and walls of several buildings. Majority of people rush onto the streets.
Source: Pauline Galea research on seismic history of the Maltese islands.