Everything is destroyed: farmer returns to field after fireworks factory blast

Large boulders lie scattered among shrivelled vines, half-grown melons and withered tomato plants across Victor Camilleri’s fields ‒ a stark reminder of the force of the explosion that ripped through the Lourdes Fireworks Factory in Salina last month.

In one corner of the land, a growing pile of stones marks days of backbreaking work. It is made up of boulders and a collapsed rubble wall that Camilleri has painstakingly collected as he tried to clear the fields, which are also peppered with fireworks debris.

“It took me two days just to gather these,” the 67-year-old says, gesturing towards the pile. “Everything is destroyed.”

The large rocks are only part of the problem, he explains. The smaller stones are even harder to clear because they constantly turn up in the soil while working the land.

“You keep finding them everywhere. They’re the worst.” A contractor has estimated it will cost around €300,000 to restore the land.

Camilleri was one of two people hospitalised following the massive explosion at the fireworks factory at around 6.30am on June 1. His 47-year-old son was treated for shock.

A number of animals in nearby farms and at the Bird Park were killed or injured, while property in the vicinity was damaged.

Camilleri’s fields sit directly adjacent to the Lourdes Fireworks Factory, separated only by a narrow road. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli

When Times of Malta first spoke to him on the phone the day after the blast, the area was still sealed off. Now that restrictions have been lifted, the scale of the destruction is fully visible.

His fields sit directly adjacent to the fireworks factory, separated only by a narrow road.

“I arrived at about 5.45am, as I always do,” he recalls. “I came through the gate and locked it behind me. The explosion threw the gate clean off. They later placed it on the other side of the road while clearing the area.”

Moments before the explosion, he had let his three dogs out. “Thank God, I did. Otherwise, they would have died.”

He had just walked towards the vines near where the dogs were when the first blast struck. “It was as though someone picked me up and threw me. I thought there would be another explosion but I never imagined there would be so many.”

His two sons – who were in their farm close by – immediately called to check if he was safe. He told them not to go there, believing they had stayed away.

“I later realised they had come anyway to check on me.”

Camilleri sought shelter inside what he believed was the safest room on the property. About four minutes later, more explosions followed.

Large boulders lie scattered among shrivelled vines. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

“The tremors were so strong that the room started collapsing with me inside. It didn’t come down completely. That was a miracle.”

Later, he learnt that his two sons were just metres away from him and outside the room when the massive explosions occurred. One of them had sheltered inside a large wooden spool and the other took cover in a small cave-like recess in the rocks.

“They knew where to hide because they know the place,” he says, adding that he worked the land for about 20 years.

“There was a huge cloud of dust. I couldn’t see anything. One of my sons grabbed me and got me out of the room. He told me: ‘Run as fast as you can’. Then, we heard my other son call us and went in his direction.”

The aftermath of the explosion. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

‘Don’t know where to start’

Camilleri suffered an injury to his left leg but is unsure exactly how it happened.

Since leaving hospital, he had only been allowed back briefly to feed his chickens, which somehow survived the blast. Restrictions were lifted only at the end of last week.

“I used to bring my grandchildren here to play, ride their bikes and help me during the summer. Now it’s impossible. There’s so much to clean up that I don’t even know where to start.”

A damaged room in Camilleri’s fields.

He owns 15 tumoli of agricultural land, now strewn with massive boulders, smaller stones and fireworks debris.

The damage extends far beyond the fields themselves. Irrigation pipes have been destroyed, rubble walls flattened, vine supports torn apart and several rooms, including the pump room, badly damaged. The soil is littered with stones and unexploded fireworks stars, which he says are safe.

He looks around and starts picking up some fireworks stars – small, dense pellets of pyrotechnic chemicals that create the colours and sparks of an aerial fireworks display when ignited.

Some of the damage left from the explosion. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The explosion also wiped out much of this season’s harvest. Camilleri lost tomatoes and pumpkins after damaged irrigation pipes and the loss of electricity meant he could not water them for a month. He also lost vines, melons and onions, although he hopes the underground-growing artichokes may still survive.

He does not yet know whether the land itself is safe to cultivate again.

“There’s nothing good left. You can see it with your own eyes… I don’t know if the soil needs to be tested before I can plant new crops.”

Insurance

The estimated €300,000 bill includes clearing the boulders, rebuilding rubble walls, replacing irrigation systems and vine structures, repairing buildings and machinery and replacing his van, which was also damaged during the blast as it was parked near the collapsed room.

“I don’t know who will be responsible for this,” he says. “The factory has no insurance and neither do I. I never imagined this would happen.”

Malta Insurance Association director general Adrian Galea has said the explosion caused €1.4 million in insured damage but the total cost is believed to be much higher because many impacted properties were uninsured. He said insurers have received just under 300 claims.

He owns 15 tumoli of agricultural land, now strewn with massive boulders. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A month after the blast, families and businesses most affected by the blast are still picking up the pieces, with many having to foot the bill – at least so far – for broken windows, damaged homes, cars and fields.

A spokesperson said the government is waiting for the conclusion of the magisterial inquiry into the explosion “before considering further assistance, in accordance with the law”.