Watch the terrifying moment scaffolding smashes in front of car on Gżira street

Updated 4.08pm

The terrifying moment that scaffolding smashed to the ground in front of a car on a Gżira street left onlookers shocked as a cloud of dust and debris covered the area. 

Two cars narrowly avoided being hit when the massive scaffolding collapsed on Reggie Miller Street in Gżira on Friday morning. 

The moment was captured on camera by a Times of Malta reader and video taken at the scene shows how a digger appears to have pushed the scaffolding out. 

“It’s sheer luck that nobody was injured or even killed because this is one very busy road," a resident said.

The footage shows a white car passing the scaffolding just as it becomes unstable and begins to sway dangerously.

As it begins to collapse, a red car swiftly approaches the construction site.

Luckily, the car stops in its tracks just before the scaffolding crashed onto the road, narrowly avoiding being caught underneath it.

The scaffolding also appeared to be pushed forward by a digger on the site.

A digger on the site appears to have pushed the scaffolding into the path of an oncoming car. Video: Times of Malta reader

As the scaffolding fell, the red car reversed away, and the street filled with dust.  The construction workers on site could be seen reacting in shock, with their hands on their heads as they tried to work out what to do next.

A resident said: "This is the result of pure dilettantism in the construction industry. It’s a broken industry run by cowboys and we residents are the victims.”

The road is a busy junction used by commuters and joggers.

Shocked workers were caught on camera reacting to the collapse. Video: Times of Malta reader

Contacted for comment, developer Alan Bonnici said: “We’re in the middle of solving this problem. The important thing is that no one got hurt,” before hanging up.

Bonnici is demolishing an existing apartment block named Christina Flats, excavating an underground level and building 12 overlying apartments and a penthouse.

The project got the green light in February 2025 and clearance to carry out works in January of this year.

'We cannot continue relying on luck' 

The Shadow Minister for Home Affairs has appealed for a "thorough and transparent" investigation as he pointed out this incident should serve as a "moment of reflection". 

"We cannot continue relying on luck," Conrad Borg Manche said in a Facebook post on Friday.

"The safety of workers, residents and everyone who uses our roads must be an absolute priority, not something we only remember after every incident."