Malta suffers violent gusts – Caused several damages

Gale-force winds lashed Malta early on Sunday morning, uprooting trees, demolishing walls and damaging power lines, but no injuries were reported. There occurred several destruction across the country as a result of these high winds.

The wind had a high speed of 101km/h. Trees were uprooted, walls got toppled and seafronts flooded in the violent gusts. It caused damage to electricity networks and forced road closures across the whole island.

The Civil Protection Department officials were sent to around 300 sites for clearing roads, removing dangerous walls and evacuating people from flooded residences. People advised to stay indoors.

The Maltese Islands Weather site said on Sunday morning that the northeast wind was appeared to be the strongest in many years. The 101 km/h (Force 10, almost Force 11) gusts measured by the site’s weather station in Għarb were an all-time record. The storm had gradually died down as the night fell.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Binoy Krishna