No one injured in roof collapse

The roof of a four-storey building in St Nicholas Street, Valletta, yesterday collapsed and crashed onto the floor below, causing some of the floor's slabs to cave in too.

The incident occurred at around 1 a.m., but, fortunately, no one was hurt, said Vincent Vassallo, who lives with his family on the upper floors.

The building is divided into two flats - home to two families, who were sleeping at the time.

Luckily, it was the roof over the kitchen and not over the bedrooms which collapsed.

However, the impact of the collapsed roof caused parts of the kitchen floor to fall into the living room, where the wife of the Vassallo family was sleeping, to be able to hear the phone ring to wake up her son.

She was not injured, her husband Vincent said. His two children were asleep and were awoken by the sound of the crashing roof, which soulded like an "earthquake".

The Vassallo family have moved to Mr Vassallo's parents and are hoping to have the roof rebuilt as soon as possible.

Mr Vassallo said bits of the ceiling would fall off now and then, but he was not aware that the roof was dangerous and he had even walked on it.

Much damage was caused to the entire kitchen, including the appliances, and an armchair in the living room was also destroyed, he said.

The family in the flat underneath was also awakened to a thunderous "shake" and went upstairs to come in contact with a cloud of dust.

John Sciberras, who lives with his parents, said they were told their own ceilings were safe. Some of the slabs landed on the roof of their kitchen, but no damage was caused.