Bari Balla, a father of six from Albania, tragically lost his life in Sliema when a roof collapsed during construction work at a property on St Ignatius Street.

His death occurred on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Another worker, aged 31 and also Albanian, was injured but managed to escape. Balla remained trapped under the rubble and was found deceased after a frantic rescue operation.

Following the incident, the Albanian community in Malta initiated a fundraiser to support Balla’s family in coping with this tragedy.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the roof of the 1920s townhouse collapsed while workers were underneath it.

The construction works were carried out illegally without proper permits or clearance from the Planning Authority or the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

This accident underscores broader concerns about safety and regulation in Malta’s construction industry. The government has responded by establishing a committee to implement recommendations from a recent public inquiry into construction-related deaths.

Jesmond Muscat, CEO of the BCA, resigned shortly after the incident, coinciding with calls from the prime minister for stringent action by regulatory authorities.

Bari Balla’s funeral will proceed once the body is released by the inquiring magistrate, as the community rallies to support his grieving family in the wake of this devastating loss.

Contribute to the fundraiser here. 

#MaltaDaily