Gozo ferries resume normal service as Malta recovers from Storm Harry

Updated 7.15pm

Gozo Channel resumed normal service late on Wednesday afternoon as Malta emerged from Storm Harry, but the authorities continued to warn people to avoid the coast because sea conditions remained dangerous.

Ferry services between Malta and Gozo were cancelled on Monday evening and all day on Tuesday as a strong south-easterly wind howled with 104km/h gusts over Malta and rough seas battered the coast. Services by the fast ferries from Grand Harbour have not resumed yet. The ferry terminal in Grand Harbour was heavily damaged by the storm. Access has been closed and Transport Malta said it is taking action to render the area safe again.

The storm also stopped crossings between Malta and Sicily, caused flight diversions, tore down dozens of trees and wrecked seafront shop fronts, particularly in Marsascala. Crossings between Sicily and Malta resumed on Wednesday.  

The Civil Protection Malta responded to 502 calls between Monday and noon on Wednesday. 

Members of the Civil Protection Department attend to one of hundreds of tree obstructions during Storm Harry. Photo: CPD

Among other calls, it removed 228 tree obstructions, cleared 119 debris operations, attended 14 billboard/sign incidents, responded to 45 electrical hazards, helped 27 people trapped in their cars and assisted in six flooding incidents.

The CPD was also called out to six HAZMAT spillages, six rubbish fires, three vehicle fires, three medical extractions and one person locked in a lift. 

It "strongly advised" the public to avoid coastal areas and "exercise extreme caution" when driving.

With the worst of the storm over by Wednesday morning, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority said outdoor work can now resume; however, work close to the coast or the sea "remains dangerous and must be avoided".

Gozo Channel tried to resume crossings on Wednesday morning.But commuters told Times of Malta that a ferry on a trial crossing struggled to dock at Ċirkewwa. When the Ta' Pinu MV finally docked at Ċirkewwa's South Quay, people started alighting the vessel just before 9.30am.

One commuter who started queueing at 6.12am at Għajnsielem said commuters on the Mġarr side were asked to turn back at around 9.50am.

The ferry line started an 'emergency' service in mid-afternoon before resuming normal service at about 6.30pm, although it warned of delays.

Damage at  Ħondoq ir-Rummien.

Qala Mayor Paul Buttigieg was among those who shared footage of the devastation at the coast at  Ħondoq ir-Rummien. ir-Rummien Gozo.

In a video he posted on Facebook, he said the Gozo Ministry will help carry out the necessary repairs at Ħondoq ir-Rummien.

Photo: Transport Malta

The Water Services Corporation reported damage to its assets across the island, including seawell rooms in Pembroke and multiple pumping stations, with the one in Marfa being destroyed and remaining inaccessible due to strong winds. The biogas dome in Ta’ Barkat was meanwhile destroyed.

Għar Lapsi, popular among swimmers and fishers in Siġġiewi, was devastated and a ramp leading from the main road to the sea completely destroyed.

“God decided to wash everything away,"said a stunned Gilbert Borg, owner of Carmen’s Bar, who found boats in the kitchen of his seaside restaurant.

Residents of Marsascala, which was also hit hard by Storm Harry, gathered on Wednesday morning to try to clear some of the debris away. Some suggested a breakwater could be erected to avoid a repeat. 

There were also questions surrounding the new Msida flyover, which was flooded on Tuesday night forcing drivers to reverse. 

Fishermen and farmers were also among those counting their losses on Wednesday.

PL MEP Alex Agius Saliba has meanwhile turned to Brussels, urging the European Commission to support the Maltese just as it has done with other European citizens faced by such natural disasters. 

PN MEP Peter Agius has also offered the government his help to tap into European funds.