Updated 7.30pm

The elderly owners of a house where two workers were injured in a fall on Friday had moved out of their home in recent months for fear of becoming Malta's latest construction victims.

The debris on the groundfloor as seen from the roof. Photo: Giulia Magri

"My father was scared, he said he did not want to end up like Miriam Pace," Rosanne Galea told Times of Malta.

Pace, 54, was buried under the debris of her family home in Triq Joseph Abela Scolaro, Ħamrun, on March 2, 2020, in another construction site incident that prompted an outpouring of public grief and anger as well as promises of reform in the sector.

Galea's parents - both in their nineties - moved out of the Floriana property  when construction work started on an apartment block next door. 

The project - on Triq Sir Luigi Preziosi - was given clearance by the Building and Construction Authority in September 2022. 

On Friday at around 8.30am, two workers were on the construction site, when they jumped onto the roof of the neighbouring house, belonging to the Galeas.

On impact, the roof caved in and so did the ceilings of the two floors beneath them, with the workers ending up on the ground floor on top of the rubble.

The Galeas, who checked on their house daily, had noticed that during works, the builders had placed some construction material on their roof.

Their daughter said they had previously reported issues to the contractor and architect over issues including flooding from the site, which were dealt with. 

However they were only aware that their roof was being used to store building materials for the new build next door after the collapse on Friday. 

"My parents were lucky to have another house to move to, but others are not so lucky.

"This cannot keep happening, people have to feel safe and there needs to be more awareness of these risks," she said. 

Miriam Pace (inset) was killed because of construction works next door. File photo: Times of Malta

Architect says weekly inspections were carried out

The new build's architect, Elena Borg Costanzi, told Times of Malta the builders were not given any instructions or permission to place building material on the neighbouring roof. 

She added she was unaware that such material had been placed on the roof.

Borg Costanzi said she carried out weekly inspections on the construction site and was also unaware of any damage to the neighbours' property, adding that she had not received any reports.

Left: the Galeas' home. Right: The new build. Photo: Jonathan Borg

She claimed that Perit Michael Camilleri who had been assisting the Galeas since 2015 had advised his clients to move out during the demolition and excavation phase that was being handled by another architect and another developer.

"At no point during my supervision of the project was there any issue with the Galeas or any further excavation or demolition," she said.

"On the contrary, we did not exploit the full width of the site bearing in mind that further excavation and trimming may damage third party property. We also constructed a separate wall abutting the Galeas."

Reacting to the incident, Floriana council minority leader James Aaron Ellul expressed solidarity with the workers and the homeowners. 

"We can no longer have people scared of living in their home because of work next door... the recommendations that were given for the sector need to be implemented immediately," Ellul said. 

'Don't allow loopholes for the sector's gods' - Isabelle Bonnici

The mother of construction victim Jean Paul Sofia meanwhile said resignations of public officials - "usually appointed because of their political alliance, rather than their competences" - were useless.

"We need to go to the source. Those in power leading the sector, those drafting legislation and those ensuring enforcement need to merit the role they hold," Isabelle Bonnici said.

Bonnici's son Jean Paul died under tons of rubble when a building under construction in Corradino collapsed in December of 2022. Bonnici relentlessly campaigned for a public inquiry into the tragedy. 

In February of this year, the inquiry concluded that Sofia died in an essentially unregulated construction site and the state must bear responsibility for that.

"I did all I could, and I'm still trying. I'm waiting for another meeting with the minister to discuss future developments. However, I have my limitations as I am only a mother who lost everything and who does not wish to see anyone else going through what I did. 

"Now it is up to the government to remain strong with the people who are killing our children, who are scaring people in their homes and destroying the country's natural beauty. Several are unhappy with the current situation... are we going to continue like this?"

She urged the government not to allow any "loopholes for the gods of the construction sector".

Bonnici asked whether it was time for the people to unite again and make their voices heard, showing they were fed up with the pain and destruction the sector had brought with it.

"Who will shoulder the responsibility you should have shouldered following past tragedies and who will step aside to make way for capable people?

"How do you sleep at night knowing that in order for you to become richer, or to please some 'friends' there are people who are not able to sleep at night because of the pain you have caused them," she asked.

"Do you know how to be men and women worthy of the vote that people trusted you with?"

'People's health, lives remain buried under injustice of greed'

Moviment Graffitti activists also questioned why people of all ages had to live in fear caused by a "rushed and uncontrolled" construction agency.

"Up until developers and contractors continue dictating the law in Castille, our health and lives will remain buried under the injustice of greed," the NGO said. 

Authorities lack of action 'border on criminal' - FAA 

In a statement, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar condemned the collapse and said a lack of action from authorities "borders on criminal". 

Despite repeated incidents, nothing seems to change at the top except the appointees at the Building and Construction Agency, who are duty-bound to prevent them in the first place, they said. 

The FAA added that authorities are doing next to nothing to rein in certain architects who "build up a reputation for getting difficult applications approved" and take on too many sites simultaneously with little supervision. 

"Lack of enforcement everywhere comes into play, encouraging cowboys to abuse without hindrance. In this orgy of construction greed, lack of supervision, poor quality materials and unskilled workmanship are the norm," they said. 

"The fear on the faces of the Floriana neighbours this morning showed how Malta's residents are being made to live, forced out of our homes and stripped of their peace of mind by the bully contractors and their henchmen - the cowboy architects, aided and abetted by the blind-eye Building and Construction Authority, the puppet Planning Authority and the cohort of politicians who control them. It is not enough for the minister in charge and the Prime Minister to mouth the right platitudes while the developers know that it's business as usual."

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that reports had been filed over the property's roof being used to store materials. However, the reports concerned different issues.