The education authorities are waiting for the report of a geological survey conducted on the site where a quarry wall collapsed, damaging the grounds of the Mqabba primary school, before deciding on what to do next.

"We have commissioned a geologist to survey the site. All investigations have been carried out and we are now waiting for the report," a spokesman for the Education Ministry told The Sunday Times.

He insisted the school grounds were safe and a boundary wall had been built to cordon off the play area damaged by the quarry wall collapse. Another yard adjacent to the wall, he added, was not being used as a precaution.

"When the report reaches the authorities, a way forward will be decided upon once the recommendations have been considered," the spokesman said. The 12-storey cliff face collapsed on February 28, pulling down the boundary wall between the quarry and the school's playground.

The play area has a five-a-side artificial turf pitch that was constructed around three years ago on land previously leased to the quarry owner by the government.

Deep furrows in the soil on the school premises are still visible, raising doubts on the stability of the rock beneath.

An independent architect had told The Times a combination of natural and man-made factors, including the thin rock face left behind after excavation, could have led to the quarry collapse.

While the rock in the area was characterised by a number of naturally occurring faults, architect Robert Musumeci had said that what seemed like debris behind the collapsed side may have exerted pressure on the "apparently thin rock face".

Water seeping through the debris, he added, may have exacerbated the situation.

Mr Musumeci, who specialises in restoration architecture, had submitted a similar theory to explain the collapse of a Floriana bastion last year.

Quarry owner Ċensu Farrugia, known as Ta' Puzzu, had blamed water for the collapse, insisting the school used to leave a lot of water running with reference to a tract of soil on school premises which separated the play area from the boundary wall alongside the quarry.

He said no rock cutting had taken place for quite some time in the area that collapsed. The Occupational Health and Safety Authority had ordered the quarry owner not to use or approach the area where the collapse occurred.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com