Here’s what we know so far:
An apartment block known as Tania Flats collapsed yesterday in Paceville, St Julian’s. Thanks to quick action by architects, authorities, and one alert resident, 32 people were safely evacuated before the collapse occurred.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) both confirmed that the site had been inspected and a stop notice was issued on 10 June.
After discussions with architects and with help from the police, residents were removed from the building as a precaution.
Excel Trading Ltd, developers of a nearby site, said their demolition work was completed weeks earlier. Their architect, along with others involved, identified serious issues in the structure of Tania Flats and recommended evacuation.
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Excel maintains the collapse was unrelated to their project and says it is fully cooperating with authorities.
The Kamra tal-Periti is investigating the case and praised the architects and public officials whose swift action saved lives. However, it is also looking into whether professional misconduct contributed to the collapse.
Partit Momentum thanked the authorities but said more must be done to stop “cowboy developers” from operating with impunity. Chairperson Arnold Cassola criticised the slow pace of construction reforms and called for immediate legal action.
“This could have ended in a national tragedy,” said Cassola. “Life is precious. We need political courage, not silence bought by campaign donations.”
The Kamra stressed that reforms must include maintenance of older buildings, not just regulation of new developments.
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This is not the first time Giglio has been linked to the PN leadership. Back in 2020, when Adrian Delia’s position as leader was being questioned, Giglio’s name was mentioned. At that time, he did not run, and Bernard Grech went on to win the leadership race with 69.3% of the vote.