Car stuck in sand at Mellieha Bay as summer kicks in

Apr 25 2022

As Malta seems to be bracing for a sudden shift towards some long-awaited summer vibes, it seems as though the winds were way ahead of us.

The rough winds, racking up to Force 9 and 10 by the end of last week, blasted sand all over streets of Mellieha. This lead to one poor fellow’s car getting stuck in the sand, despite efforts by the clearing department to clear the roads.

Images show people surrounding and trying to pull out a car out of a massive pile of sand, which formed after the winds whipped up a mini sandstorm.

This comes as people start to flock to bays, one of them being the island’s iconic Golden Bay, to enjoy the sunlight, heat and sea.

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2021 was the deadliest in five years

Apr 25 2022

Last year, 2021, Malta registered the highest number of deaths in five years, as it recoded a massive rise in the mortality rate recorded during COVID-19’s second year.

According to Eurostat, figures show that the percentage of additional deaths was significantly higher in 2021 than 2020 and when compared to pre-pandemic 2016 to 2019.

In March of last year, more than 32% of additional deaths over the pre-pandemic period were registered. In 2020, the first pandemic year, the same figure stood at 16.7%.

In August of 2021, there were 26.8 more deaths than in the same period between 2016 and 2019. In 2020, August’s excess mortality rate stood at 13%.

The situation seemingly improved in the last four months of 2021, whereas in 2020, the last quarter of the year saw the most deaths. The rate started dropping significantly the following year.

In December, the rate was registered at 18.8%, which was lower than that for the same month in 2020, which saw a 40% death uptick. Health sources say that the excess death reflected the increase in COVID-19 case spikes.

Since the start of the pandemic, Malta registered a total of 688 deaths. Health authorities insist that the vaccines played a major part in keeping the mortality rates at bay. According to Charmaine Gauci, only 51% of COVID deaths were caused by the virus in April.

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47-year-old man assaulted in St Julians

Apr 25 2022

Yesterday, at around 2100hrs, police were informed that their assistance was needed in a shop near St George’s Bay, St Julian’s.

Police intervened on the site, and preliminary investigations revealed that a 47-year-old Australian man was assaulted by some individuals. The perpetrators had already fled from the scene before the police arrived.

The victim was certified as having suffered grievous injuries after he was given medical assistance on site and then taken to Mater Dei. Magistrate Dr Charmaine Galea LL.D was informed of the case and opened up an inquiry. Investigations are ongoing.

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Photo Source: Malta Info Guide

WATCH: Powerboat overturns during breathtaking world championship race in St. Paul’s Bay

Apr 24 2022

The weather on Sunday morning spelled another exciting for the Voomquest Enemed UIM V2 World Championship powerboat races as various drivers met in St. Paul’s Bay for another day of competition.

Earlier today, Team Bad Company’s Clive Butler secured a winning flag after finding a first place position during most of the race. Another breathtaking race for the V2s took place when Freccia Blu’s Beppe Debono found itself in the first place spot with El Diablo following. The race took a dramatic turn when Stephen Bezzina’s Cutting Edge overturned due to a technical issue.

Once safety and security measures were ensured, the race was declared complete due to 70 per cent of the minimum race distance being covered.

Voomquest founder Aaron Ciantar stated “In those rare moments, when a vessel overturns, we all hold our breath. Luckily, all drivers are conscious of the security procedures and that it why no injuries were sustained.”

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