Paceville apartment block collapses hours after 32 student residents evacuated

Updated 12.20pm

A multi-storey building in the heart of Paceville collapsed on Wednesday night, just hours after 32 student residents were evacuated due to safety concerns.

The incident unfolded at about 10.30pm, when a large part of the apartment block Tania Flats on Triq Paceville collapsed into a heap in the heart of the entertainment mecca. 

Nobody was injured in the incident, in large part due to the quick work of architects and authorities who evacuated 32 people living inside the block on Wednesday morning, following concerns about its structural integrity. 

Times of Malta understands the residents were all English language students. The Building and Construction Authority said they had been given alternative accommodation and help "to mitigate the consequences of this incident".

The building is adjacent to an active construction site that was served with a stop works notice just one day prior, on June 10, after a resident of the block reported damage during demolition works next door. 

The developer of the adjacent site is Excel Developments which is owned by Joseph Portelli, Mark Agius and Daniel Refalo.  Agius is listed as the project developer.

In a statement issued on Thursday morning, Excel Trading Limited insisted "the collapse was not caused" by any works commissioned by the company.

"Demolition works adjacent to Tania Flats were completed on May 7," they said.

The collapsed building is in the heart of Paceville. Photo: Jonathan Borg

However, following their statement, Times of Malta was sent a video showing works taking place on May 30.

Responding to this, the developers said works "adjacent to Tania Flats were concluded" on May 7. "Works on the rest of the site continued. Keep in mind it’s a large site," they said. 

Architects representing residents filed a police report about the matter on Wednesday morning, and with the backing of the Building and Construction Authority and Occupational Health and Safety Authority, police moved to evacuate residents and cordon off the area. 

Two restaurants were also instructed to remain closed on Wednesday as a precaution. 

Hours later, the building collapsed. 

Police officers at the site earlier on Wednesday as residents were evacuated.

Both the BCA and OHSA issued separate statements on Wednesday night to confirm that they had worked with architects to move residents out safely, had stopped works at the construction site next door and moved to sanction the developer. 

The incident will now be the subject of a more in-depth investigation. 

Following the collapse, police and Civil Protection Department officials quickly cordoned off the area and kept shocked bystanders at bay. 

A police spokesperson later confirmed that nobody was injured.

The construction site adjacent to the collapsed building spans a large area intersecting Triq Paceville and Triq Gort. It previously housed the popular Avenue restaurant. 

Developers obtained clearance to carry out demolition works at the site in late March, as part of a permit to clear the site and build a 125-bedroom hotel. Another, as-yet pending PA application for the site seeks to instead build dozens of apartments there. 

Rescue workers analyse the site using a crane. Photo: Jonathan Borg

A report drawn up on Monday by architect Christopher Mintoff had warned that the property was "a danger to its users". 

"This might be the last warning the building may give prior to a more serious scenario. These types of structures fail slowly, then suddenly," Mintoff had said in his report which was submitted through the BCA's online portal.

The building before the collapse and signs of damage seen inside

The architect had recommended the property should be reinforced with jacks, masonry pillars and steel beams to make it safe before a long-term solution is found.

A day before the incident, government architect Nadia Curmi had inspected the area and reached the same conclusion as Mintoff. 

Mintoff told Times of Malta he did not see anything untoward in demolition works next door and that the developer's architect, Glenn Zammit had been "exemplary" in his handling of the situation.

He also said the building had structural issues following an extension which was constructed five years ago. 

In its statement, Excel Trading Ltd said the company's appointed architect Glenn Zammit "had noticed visual defects on Tania Flats and immediately engaged with the building's owners and the architects responsible for previous structural works on the property".

A "precautionary stop notice" was issued after a meeting was held on Monday which revealed the building had long-standing structural issues.

Some 32 residents were evacuated on Wednesday morning after architects noticed the site "had deteriorated". 

"This swift action by the architects was life-saving," Excel Trading Ltd said.

The company added it has "fully cooperated" with the authorities, including complying with a precautionary stop notice issued on its site.

"The Company will continue to follow all directions provided by the relevant authorities and remains fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigations into this incident."

Crushed stone and collapsed stairs at the site. Photo: Jonathan Borg

In a social media post on Thursday morning, the minister for the reform of the construction sector Jonathan Attard said he had instructed the BCA to take a "central role" in the next steps.

"Our priority remains the safety of the public," Attard said, while thanking the BCA, OHSA and the police for their swift action to evacuate residents.

Bystanders at the site. Photo: Jonathan Borg

On Thursday morning, the BCA said it launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the collapse as it leads further inspections and safety evaluations with the support of independent experts.

The authority is coordinating structural inspections of surrounding buildings to ensure they are not at risk and is overseeing the safe removal of debris to ensure the area is safe before access is restored to the public.

It said anyone affected by the incident can contact the emergency helpline: 99097867