Five hours on, Kirkop scrapyard fire 'brought under control'

Cooling operations still underway

Updated 7.48pm

An industrial fire which tore through a scrapyard in Kirkop, on the edge of Mqabba, on Friday, has been brought under control after more than five hours.

The fire sent a thick black plume of smoke billowing across southern Malta and prompted an urgent warning for people to avoid the area. 

Residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed as the fire rages. Video: Jonathan Borg

Images posted on social media by the CPD showed the blaze raging in Tar-Robba Recycling Centre on Triq Tal-Isqof on the edge of Mqabba. The scrapyard has a large number of cars on site.

A thick black plume of smoke could be seen from a distance across the South of Malta. Photo: Civil Protection DepartmentA thick black plume of smoke could be seen from a distance across the South of Malta. Photo: Civil Protection Department

The CPD said residents in nearby localities, including Mqabba, Kirkop and Żurrieq should keep their windows and all doors closed as a precaution "due to smoke and fumes in the area". 

A large black plume of smoke could be seen from a distance rising up over the scrapyard.

The plume of smoke can be seen from a distance across the South of Malta. Photo: Valhmor CamilleriThe plume of smoke can be seen from a distance across the South of Malta. Photo: Valhmor Camilleri

Tar-Robba recycling centre is located in a former quarry and the scrapyard stores and dismantles end-of-life vehicles.

The plume of smoke from the scrapyard fire in Kirkop seen from Valletta. Photo: Nicole MeilakThe plume of smoke from the scrapyard fire in Kirkop seen from Valletta. Photo: Nicole Meilak

After more than five hours, CPD said the fire "has been successfully brought under control".

However, at just before 8pm, the CPD said cooling operations "are still actively underway" and crews remain on site to secure the area and eliminate any risk of re-ignition.

The scrapyard has a number of end-of-life cars on site. Photo: CPDThe scrapyard has a number of end-of-life cars on site. Photo: CPD

"All responding entities continue to operate on scene in full coordination, ensuring that the situation remains stable and under constant monitoring," the CPD said in a social media update.

The extent of the damage at the scrapyard is not yet known. Photo: CPDThe extent of the damage at the scrapyard is not yet known. Photo: CPD

This is the third major scrapyard fire in six months.

In November last year, a blaze erupted at a Marsa scrapyard that had previously been warned over a long list of environmental infringements.

Before that, another fire at a separate scrapyard in Tal-Barrani took 97 firefighters around 16 hours to extinguish.

And last month a fire broke out in a quarry in Dingli that contained tyres, asbestos and other hazardous materials.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.