NEWS | Wednesday, 10 December 2008

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Naxxar tragedy victims get aid to rebuild houses

Government to take on case against illegal fireworks makers

Karl Schembri
Four Naxxar families yesterday received €284,700 from the Housing Authority to be able to rebuild their houses that were destroyed by a fireworks explosion in a garage last March.
Besides killing the man who was producing the illegal fireworks in the garage of his own residence in Triq Ħal-Dgħejf on 12 March, the explosion also claimed the life of a 35-year-old mother of two children, and completely destroyed two houses. Another house was so extensively damaged that it had to be pulled down, while another house was burnt by the explosion and also had to be pulled down.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony yesterday, social policy minister John Dalli said a total of 74 families were affected by the explosion in the form of damage to their houses and psychological trauma.
“This was a double tragedy because it wasn’t just an act of God but because of the irresponsibility, abuse and egoism of certain people,” Dalli said.
He also revealed that the contracts signed with the families include a waiver clause for damages, through which they forfeited their rights to sue those responsible for the tragedy. The government will take up the case and sue instead.
The financial help was only offered to the victims’ families, Dalli said, making it clear that the family of the man involved in the illegal production of fireworks was excluded.
Praising the Maltese people for rushing to help those afflicted by the tragedy, Dalli said a total of €350,000 were allocated by the housing authority to help the families that had to rent other houses until they could get back to their homes, and for the four families that had to rebuild their houses entirely.
The funds were allocated following housing authority architects’ assessment of damages.
The families were also helped through social work agencies for dealing with the trauma in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Naxxar council also set up a victims’ fund to help the families hit by the tragedy.

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