Police interview architect, contractor and workers

The police, investigating the circumstances that led to the collapse of a St Paul's Bay building leaving two women dead, yesterday interrogated a Birkirkara contractor and a number of men involved in works at an adjacent plot.

Police sources said the architect in charge of construction works next to the collapsed building was also interviewed.

The sources added the police were carrying out investigations to determine whether the collapsed building was in line with building regulations.

The victims, Mary Zarb, a 60-year-old retired widowed teacher and a former member of the first St Paul's Bay local council (1993-96), and Russian interpreter Nadya Vavilova, 24, who was attending a lesson in Maltese at Ms Zarb's flat at the time of the collapse, were found during the night buried under rubble by Civil Protection Department personnel, nearly 12 hours after tragedy struck.

At first there were fears that another Russian person might have been trapped under the rubble but Civil Protection Department sources said it was established there were no reports of any missing Russian national.

The women, found close to each other, were certified dead by Mario Scerri, a clinical forensic physician.

The police said a post mortem examination, held on the two victims yesterday at St Luke's Hospital mortuary, established they had died of "multiple injuries and traumatic asphyxia".

The building in Ramon Perellos Street, which formed part of a block of flats with underlying garages, crumbled at about 3.30 p.m. on Thursday as Ms Zarb was with Ms Vavilova in the first floor flat.

Ms Vavilova had been in Malta for the last three years and worked as an interpreter.

A close friend of hers said the Russian girl had been seriously injured in a hit-and-run traffic accident in Qawra some 18 months ago.

Residents in the area said Ms Zarb's daughter, Diane Mulè Stagno, had told them that her mother had complained with her that her flat vibrated when the rock cutting works were in progress. On Thursday morning workers were engaged in excavation works close to the wall of the collapsed building in preparation for the laying of new foundations.

St Paul's mayor Paul Bugeja, who remained on site until the victims were found, said the spot where the two victims were discovered indicated that Ms Zarb and Ms Vavilova may have tried to escape as they sensed that the building was collapsing but, alas, did not have enough time. The spot where they were found was in line with the door of the first floor flat.

At the time they were found by Civil Protection Department personnel at 1.30 a.m., Ms Zarb's daughter was still on the spot in a bid to help locate the victims.

A sad moment during the rescue operation was when her mother's personal belongings were being unearthed from under the massive pile of concrete chunks, heavy boulders and rubble.

Ms Zarb used to give private lessons and prepare young children for their First Holy Communion.

The owner of a fish shop close by said the neighbourhood has lost a good woman who enjoyed the respect of everyone.

This morning, the Civil Protection Department is expected to demolish the part of the block that remained standing but which is posing a danger to passers-by. A spokesman for the Civil Protection Department said this will allow the removal of rubble from the site, thus facilitating investigations that can throw light on how the collapse occurred.

Magistrate Joe Cassar is conducting an inquiry.

Police investigations are being conducted by Assistant Commissioner Paul Sammut and district inspector Joe Mercieca.

This tragedy brought back memories of another building collapse, caused by an explosion, which had claimed the lives of a young mother and her child 12 years ago.

Yvette Bonnici and her 19-month-old son Sean had died on March 18, 1992 when an explosion demolished part of the apartment where they were sleeping. The explosion also brought down the Malta Labour Party Club, the Oxford photo studio and a Catholic bookshop in Paola Square, Paola.