Four cows killed by Salina blast - residents describe terrifying moments

Neighbours have described terrifying moments as a series of powerful explosions from a fireworks factory rocked Salina. While no one was killed or seriously injured, farmers reported the death of four cows, while other livestock was injured.

Veterinarians from the Food Safety and Security Authority, which is responsible for food-bearing animals, were on the site to provide assistance on Monday morning accompanied by officers from the Animal Welfare Department. 

The MaYA Foundation, which works among farmers reported "significant damage" to farms and called for support by the authorities. 

The Lourdes Fireworks Factory blew up at 6.30am.

A woman who lives close by described how she was preparing lunch for her eight-year-old daughter when she heard the first explosion. More blasts followed shortly after.

“It was terrifying. Windows and glass in the bedrooms and bathroom were shattered. My daughter was near me. I grabbed her and held her tight. At that moment, I didn’t know what to do. I was scared the building would collapse. I was afraid to stay inside, but also afraid to go outside.”

She said she immediately suspected the explosions were caused by the fireworks factory.

She eventually ran out of the house with her daughter and saw large boulders had fallen nearby.

“One fell on a shelter where I park my car. It went through the tent and crashed on my car. Had it been 10 minutes later, I would have been there with my daughter.

She said that as she got out she met neighbours who had also fled their homes. Together, they ran further down the road to avoid falling debris and damaged electricity cables.

Residents gathered there as Civil Protection Department and Armed Forces of Malta officials assessed the situation, also using drones.

Some fireworks continued to go off hours after the initial explosions.

Rescue teams near the site of the explosion.

The owners of a nearby cow farm said they were initially not allowed to return to their property for safety reasons. Later in the morning, Civil Protection officials accompanied them to milk the cows, as delaying this would have harmed the animals.

John Portelli, whose home is located about 800 metres from the blast site, described how he thought his house was going to collapse when the multiple explosions occurred.

“You feel it inside you… It felt like some hypersonic missile had passed,” he said.

He said that his home was pelted with stones and that a basement window was shattered.

In the surrounding roads, both small and large stones littered the area. One struck a moving car, though no one was injured.

As neighbours gathered on the road, waiting for news about their homes, property, and livestock, women from a nearby house offered water and coffee. Residents shared their experiences, some in tears, and spoke about their fears and worries, with some questioning why no government officials had yet arrived.

Triq is-Salini, usually busy with traffic, was pelted with stones.

Neighbours, farmers, cleared to return

Sources close to the emergency response authorities told Times of Malta at around 11.45am that residents and farmers had been cleared to return to their homes. 

Those whose properties sustained damage were advised to contact an architect to certify that their properties were safe. 

It is understood that CPD officers will continue searching for unexploded fireworks on Tuesday morning shortly after daybreak, due to the risk posed by the effect of daytime heat on unexploded ordnance.