Malta needs to prepare for a tsunami hitting within 30 years says UNESCO

Jun 30 2022

Malta has been informed by UNESCO to set preparations in place for a tsunami which is set to hit within 30 years. The chances of it hitting are a matter of when and not if, the organisations said.

At least one of the island’s coastal towns should have tsunami preparations in place by the end of 2023 as the world organisation urges all Mediterranean coastal cities to become tsunami-ready.

Programme specialist at the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic Denis Chang Seng said that if Malta is surprised by a tsunami, it will be a high impact event because of the many boats and expensive vessels.

The risk assessment by UNESCO refers to one-metre waves in the whole Mediterranean region. Strong tsunamis could move and lift off cars, with weaker ones possibly resulting in walls of water travelling at 65km/h.

The tsunamis are not speculation as they have already materialised back in 2017 and 2020 in Greece and Turkey. Countries need to prepare as if a tsunami can hit tomorrow, Seng informed Times of Malta.

Marsaxlokk has already been taken as a case study and set to become the first tsunami ready location in Malta after satisfying 12 credentials. It is set to join 40 tsunami ready towns and cities in 21 countries.

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WATCH: High tide floods Spinola Bay in St Julian’s

Jun 30 2022

Video footage uploaded to Facebook shows a high tide flooding Spinola Bay in St Julian’s.

The water flooded the quay area next to the iconic LOVE sign, but no damage to the boats in the area was reported as of yet. However, the water did displace some plant pots which could be floating along. Another instance of this allegedly also occurred in Marsaxlokk this morning. Information about the impact caused is yet to be released.

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This also comes as UNESCO warns that Malta is to face a tsunami within 30 years and urges preparations in case of the disaster.

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Photo Source: Kris Borg

Romelu Lukaku completes loan move back to Inter

Jun 29 2022

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has completed a loan move back to Italian team Inter after he left them last year. He left Inter last summer for than European champions Chelsea in a deal worth nearly €115 million.

The Italian club announced that the deal was done in a video of the striker on top of their HQ in which he declared “I”m back!” to president Steven Zhang.

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Lukaku’s second stint at Chelsea did not go to plan. He arrived with a lot of expectations following the two great seasons he had in Milan, however he failed to adapt to Chelsea’s system and he quickly set his eyes on a return to Serie A.

This desire for a move back was seen in the interview he requested with Sky Sport Italia where he said countless of times that in the future he would don the Nerrazzuri shirt again. Due to Inter’s shaky finances the deal could only happen on a one year loan basis worth around €10 million with no option or obligation to buy.

Despite the official ultras groups boycotting Romelu Lukaku’s return from Chelsea, regular Inter fans flocked to welcome the striker back and he was clearly loving it. He was seen greeting Inter fans all day long whether it was in the airport, Inter HQ or CONI where he completed his medical.

Live #Sportitaliamercato @tvdellosport pic.twitter.com/pTVQDG4o3t

— Michele Criscitiello (@MCriscitiello) June 29, 2022

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Malta Philharmonic Orchestra launches Malta Summer Festival presenting opera in an innovative manner

Malta Philarmonic Orchestra launches summer festival presenting opera in an innovative manner

Jun 29 2022

The Malta Summer Festival has officially been launched and, under the artistic direction of Óliver Díaz, will attempt to present opera in an innovative manner in order to boost the genre’s visibility, especially with newer audiences.

The festival presents a celebration of music, lights, projections, and history, with a star-studded line-up led by Vittorio Grigolo. Immerse yourself in a musical journey unlike any other across some of the most significant operatic repertoires on nights dedicated to celebrating the genre.

Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and the Local Government, Hon. Owen Bonnici said: “This program continues to demonstrate our commitment as a Government to continue working for the music and culture; the main aim will remain to foster in people’s lives a music appreciation.”.

Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo went on to state that “apart from the appetite for travel there is also a desire for more outdoor and public activities after two years of continuous restrictions.”

“In these two years we have worked hard to assure that when our country is open in its entirety, we have a diversified cultural calendar. For this summer we have a busy entertainment calendar that will provide both tourists and Maltese the opportunity to enjoy their quality time with activities such as the Malta Summer Festival.”

In an official launch, MPO CEO Sigmund Mifsud explained the significance of this step for the orchestra and our country and remarked on the MPO’s role in producing the festival, building on last year’s Grand Finale.

“We always believed in the importance of organising a festival like this, as it offers an opportunity for networking while setting the objectives of musical growth, both for the orchestra and also for the local cultural ecology,” he said.

Kicking off on 13 July and running until 21 July, the Malta Summer Festival is presented by the MPO in collaboration with the Arts Council Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority with the support of Hilton Malta, the Ministry for Gozo, and the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government. All information on the festival can be found on maltaorchestra.com/malta-summer-festival/

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