Car damaged as construction site wall in St Julian's collapses

Updated 11.50am on Tuesday

A parked car was damaged on Monday when the wall of an adjacent construction site collapsed onto the vehicle, smashing the back window and damaging the chassis.

The car was parked on a side road off Triq Santu Wistin in St Julian’s when the wall collapsed as an excavation vehicle worked on site.

The vehicle was continuing its work unperturbed when Times of Malta visited the site shortly afterwards. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said works after the incident had been limited to clearing "dangerous works", however. 

The collapse occurred at a site managed by architectural and structural design company iAS, with works being carried out by Attard-based contractor Faceworks. The developers apologised for the incidenc and said no-one was injured.

Officers from BCA and Occupational Health & Safety Authority (OHSA) attended the site this afternoon and a stop works order was issued against the site.

Works were underway when Times of Malta visited the site. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

A section of earth appeared to have hit the wall on the opposite side. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

The site is part of the ‘Project Landmark’ development, with works including “demolition of existing dwellings and construction of phase one... including excavation and construction of underground parking”, according to the Planning Authority permit for the site.

In a statement on Tuesday, the developers apologised for the collapse of the wall, which it said gave way due to a fissuer in the rock structure while the contractor was carrying out excavation work.

"The developers have been in touch with the vehicle’s owner to make the necessary arrangements for compensation," a spokesperson said. "While the developers are fully cooperating with the Building and Construction Authority over the incident, they wish to assure the public that health and safety measures are a top priority on the site."

This is not the first time a vehicle has fallen victim to a construction site; in 2023, part of an extension to the façade of Valletta residence collapsed onto the street, narrowly missing pedestrians and damaging two cars.

A police spokesperson confirmed a report had been made and that officers were going onsite to assess the damage.

The OHSA said officers had been dispatched to the site, adding no issues had been found in prior visits to the site earlier this month and last month.

A spokesperson for BCA said the authority was "currently investigating the case with other concerned authorities, and a stop works notice was issued," adding the works that took place at the site after the incident were "limited to the removal of dangerous works".

A rock appeared to have hit the wall on the opposite side. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.