Dramatic eyewitness video captured the terrifying moment a powerful explosion tore through a fireworks factory in Malta early this morning, sending a colossal plume of thick black and grey smoke billowing high into the sky.
The blast at the Ta' Lourdes (Madonna ta' Lourdes) Fireworks Factory on Triq il-Qadi in the Magħtab area near Salina and Naxxar erupted around 6:30 am on Monday, June 1, shaking buildings across the tiny Mediterranean island nation and sparking fears of a major disaster.
Residents described the ground-shaking boom as "terrifying," with windows shattering, doors blown off hinges, and debris hurled hundreds of metres away. The initial massive detonation was followed by a series of smaller explosions as fires raged at the site, preventing firefighters from immediately entering parts of the factory.
In heart-stopping footage shared widely on social media, a thick column of smoke rises dramatically from the coastal area, visible from miles away as stunned locals film from a promenade. The video shows the sheer scale of the inferno, with orange flames licking at the base of the towering plume.
Thankfully, there were no deaths reported at the factory itself, with police confirming that no licensed workers were on site at the time of the explosion. However, two farmers working in nearby fields were not so lucky.
A 67-year-old and a 47-year-old man, both from St Paul's Bay, were treated at Mater Dei Hospital for minor injuries and shock after being hit by debris and the force of the blast. A food courier was also reportedly affected.
Tragically, the explosion claimed the lives of several animals on nearby farms, including four cows, birds, and rabbits, as devastated locals surveyed the damage.
The force of the blast caused extensive damage across the surrounding residential and rural areas. Homes had windows blown out, roofs damaged, and walls cracked, while cars were left dented and covered in debris. Large rocks and shrapnel were scattered along roads, including Triq is-Salina.
Local councils urged residents to stay away from the area, with roads closed as emergency services worked through the morning. Civil Protection Department teams battled ongoing fires and secondary blasts well into the day.
This is not the first time the Lourdes factory has made headlines. In 2018, an explosion at the same site left two men with serious injuries, raising fresh questions about safety standards in Malta's vibrant but sometimes hazardous fireworks industry, which supplies colourful displays for the island's famous village feasts.
