The crowd that rushed the door and collapsed the railing. Photo: Marcelo Bueno

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday ordered a review of legislation governing nightclubs after 74 youths were injured in Paceville on Saturday night.

He would be making decisions to ensure the law was strict and, more importantly, that it was observed, a spokesman said.

“For years, criminality was the order of the day in Paceville. The situation must be reviewed. Legislation should be stricter to put the onus on establishments that allow underage people in, while the police should be more vigilant,” the spokesman quoted Dr Muscat as saying.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil also questioned why underage children had been allowed into the nightclub.

The injured, among them two girls, 13 and 15, who were in critical condition, were at the Plusone club when, while leaving in a rush, the glass railing lining the entrance stairway collapsed and they fell from a height of more than one storey.

Young party-goers who were inside the club told the Times of Malta something in the air started burning their eyes and throats and they decided to leave.

Legislation should be stricter to put the onus on establishments that allow underage people in, while the police should be more vigilant

Video footage of the banister collapse shows the party-goers shuffle onto the stairs of the club, on St Rita Steps but unable to move on because of a scuffle outside the exit.

The pressure against the glass railing increased as more youths crammed on to the stairs. The railing eventually gave way, and as the glass shattered many young people fell on to a flight of steps leading to another nightlcub below.