Ten families evacuated amid collapse fears at Naxxar construction site

Updated 10.48pm with minister's comments

The Building and Construction Authority has ordered 10 families living near a Naxxar construction site to evacuate on Thursday evening after safety concerns were raised when the foundations of a multi-storey development "suddenly gave way". 

The evacuation happened despite the developer insisting there was "no danger". 

Photos and video sent to Times of Malta show foundations and compacted earth beneath the development shifting, prompting fears among nearby residents that the building could collapse.

Police were on the scene at the site on Triq il-Milizzja corner with Triq is-Seneskalk in Naxxar as initial investigations got underway.

The site is being developed by contractor Anton Camilleri, known as Tal-Franċiż, who is also behind the Villa Rosa mega-development proposal.

The Naxxar site was “subjected to extensive excavation”, according to one resident. 

“We heard a loud noise,” the resident said as he looked on with concern. "Foundations are still occasionally cascading and landsliding out from beneath the development."

Excavation works on the former disused quarry have been ongoing for several years. The site, which covers an area of around 12,000 square metres is subject to an application to construct 64 apartments with 10 overlying receded floor units over approved garages.

The area where the incident occurred is earmarked for garages.

This part of the single-leaf wall started shifting on Thursday afternoon.

Ten families living in an adjacent block were evacuated. Times of Malta understands they will be spending the night in a hotel.

The BCA said a "controlled evacuation" was carried out "as a precautionary measure" while monitoring of the site continues.

The Minister for Construction Reform Jonathan Attard went on site on Thursday night to assess the situation first-hand.

The minister told Times of Malta that controlled evacuations had taken place as a precautionary measure while stressing that authorities prioritised public safety.

"At this stage, it would be premature to comment further pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations", Attard said, adding that authorities and independent technical experts would continue to assess the situation and act accordingly. 

"The BCA remains in contact with the affected third parties and is providing all necessary support and assistance throughout this process."

'No danger'

Speaking to Times of Malta, developer Anton Camilleri insisted there is "absolutely no danger".

"Not 100%, but 300% there is no danger," Camilleri said.

He pointed out the site is self-contained and fully detached, with the nearest residents some 100 metres away. 

Camilleri explained that excavation works on the foundations were underway, but they had not managed to refill the area "on time" leading to the foundation "defaulting". 

"If it collapses, it will simply collapse into the hole of the site itself. There is no danger to residents," Camilleri added. "This is my site. There are no residents living in the units as they are still under construction, and if anything happens, I will bear the consequences."

He said that while construction workers were on site when the incident happened, they were not in that area. 

"This is a huge site," Camilleri pointed out.

He added the mega-project is being developed in phases as it is a "very complicated site". 

Meanwhile, sources said the wall that collapsed had been holding up a platform at the site. 

Sources said that while the quarry was covered by a development permit, works had not started at the site. 

The collapsed wall, meanwhile, is covered by a separate development permit, PA/79/23, where works have gotten underway. 

In a statement the BCA and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority said they are "investigating reports concerning a construction site in Naxxar."

"The authorities immediately issued a stop works order and are coordinating and taking all necessary decisions together with the Civil Protection Department to safeguard the safety of residents and the surrounding area," the BCA said.

Representatives of Infrastructure Malta were also on site.