Updated 5.30pm

"Extensive damage" to the newly restored Red Tower in Mellieħa, "caused by young people using the site for the wrong purpose" will be repaired on Saturday, Din l-Art Ħelwa has said.

On Friday morning the organisation asked those who caused the damage to the staircase leading to the tower, to come forward and cover the costs so that it can urgently repair it.  

The organisation said the damage was reported by a passer-by to the police, who immediately called its volunteers. The tower is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions but the damage has left the access in a dangerous state, Din l-Art Ħelwa said.

Later in the day, the organisation said it had received several offers of help. The Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, will be repairing the damage on Saturday morning.  

In the meantime, people are being asked to avoid accessing the top of the staircase, a popular site for selfies.

According to CCTV footage, the damage was caused when sudden pressure was put on the flagpole, yanking it, and its supporting masonry, out of place by some young people who had climbed into a hammock that they strung across the railings.  

"It is a relief to know that the damage was not the result of deliberate vandalism, but was irresponsibly caused by young people using the site for the wrong purpose.  

"Several people will now have to come together to repair the damage caused to a public monument resulting from a rash act of idiotic behaviour.  

"We trust that nobody got hurt in the process but still hope that these people will make themselves known to the police so the incident can be closed," the organisation added.

The Red Tower has just recently undergone extensive renovation. With harshly reduced income due to the pandemic, the organisation had called for donations to make the access stairs safe again.

“It is a real shame that after all our hard work, the tower has been damaged by the very people it was built to defend. We hope that the public can come forward so funds are found for its repair,” it had said on Friday morning.

Din l-Art Ħelwa said that its continuous work to maintain its historic properties in pristine order comes at a huge cost and funds are hard to come by during these times when visitor numbers are nil. 

There is also a huge amount of illegal dumping close to the sites and this had now spiralled out of control.  

It appealed to the authorities to tighten up on monitoring and enforcement to prevent such “uncivil behaviour” which disrespected heritage and destroyed the countryside. 

Donations can be made here.