One of the high-rise buildings emerging in Tigne is being built over an unstable sea cliff, a top geologist has warned. 

The new tower is the latest being built in Tigne.

"I've never seen a building constructed like this anywhere in the world," Peter Gatt told Times of Malta, after he produced two alarming pictures of the Sliema buildings on his Facebook page. 

"The rock is part of the foundation of the building. It cuts right through it. If the sea cliff fails, there will be nothing holding the high rise over it. Rock failure can damage the foundations or leave them unsupported," Dr Gatt said.

The building is, in fact, constructed right over a fractured and eroded sea cliff that can collapse at any time soon. The cliff incorporates a cave and nobody knows how deep it is, he warned. 

The construction is taking place close to The Point shopping centre, one of Malta's top retail and entertainment spots. 

"Geology matters, so do lives," said Dr Gatt who has specialised specifically in the geology of the Malta continental shelf.

When contacted, the president of the Kamra tal-Periti said Maltese architects and structural engineers carry out their work very seriously and professionally.

"If a real risk exists, I'm sure the structural engineers are working on it or have already solved it," Chris Mintoff said, warning against "alarmist" claims. 

The pictures emerged two days after the Planning Authority gave the green light to a controversial 38-storey tower on the already crammed Sliema peninsula.