Fireworks explosion damage claims coming in, but many applicants not insured

Dozens of damage claims have been filed following the powerful fireworks factory explosion at Salina, one major insurance company said, noting that many of those who did were uninsured.

About 70 damage claims have been filed with Mapfre, which set up a dedicated online form for clients whose property or businesses were damaged in the blast.

By 5pm on the day of the explosion, the insurance company received 60 claims. Another 10 were submitted by the end of the week. The company said 55 of the claims involved residential properties, five were about commercial premises and two referred to boats.

Mapfre chief operations officer Keith Tanti said the company wanted to help clients and process claims more efficiently without delays. The company, he noted, also assigned staff at the contact centre to deal with clients affected by the blast. “We want to be there to support our clients in an emergency; it’s part of our job,” he said.

He noted that many of the calls came from uninsured people calling to get information on how to proceed. “Some individuals assumed we were the insurance company for the fireworks factory, and we had to clarify that we weren’t,” he said.

Tanti said he was at sea in Mistra Bay when the explosion happened and saw a thick plume of smoke rising into the air. “I felt the blast out at sea and I could only imagine the impact the blast had on residents nearby,” he said.

Soon after the explosion, Tanti and the rest of the Mapfre team set up the dedicated claims form and shared it on social media.  He said the company had used a similar system earlier this year after Storm Harry caused extensive damage to homes and businesses.

One Bidnija resident, Edmund, whose glass windows were blown off by the blast, is one of a handful of people who do not have insurance and are left in the dark about what to do. He said he contacted the police to file a report and was informed by an officer that many were doing the same. “When we filed the report, the police also told us they did not know what we had to do,” he said.

‘Early days’

Jean Zammit, head of the general business claims department at Elmo Insurance, said the company received just 10 claims for damages. “It is still early days and, soon, more claims will trickle in,” he said. 

The claims received so far involve broken glass balcony doors, apertures, and windows. Zammit said the company also received claims about some structural damage, including hairline cracks in buildings. 

Mapfre also received reports about damaged garage doors of warehouses in an industrial area close to the fireworks factory, which had been blown in by the force of the explosion.

Two boat owners reported damage to canvas and fibreglass caused by rock debris that landed on the boats.

Tanti said most of the damage was reported in localities within a 1.5km radius from the fireworks factory, mostly Qawra and Burmarrad, although one claim came from Mosta.

When asked how much the damage claims would amount to, Tanti said it is too early to tell, noting that more claims were likely to be made.