A flash fire, which spread within seconds as a result of a strong vortex of air, caused Wednesday’s incident at WasteServ’s Magħtab landfill.   

The fire broke out in a contained area of the facility just after 11:30 am, and CCTV footage WasteServ is releasing shows how quickly the situation developed.   

The fire was contained within a short span of time following the prompt and coordinated response of the Civil Protection Department and WasteServ employees. However, strong winds that changed direction countless times continued to pose challenges, with firefighters remaining on site until the early morning hours until the affected area was completely covered with graded inert material.   

Thanks to the swift action taken by all those involved, no employees were injured, and no damage was sustained to WasteServ’s waste processing facilities. 

The affected area was secured and monitored throughout the incident and in the hours that followed. 

WasteServ thanks the dedicated CPD responders for their rapid and professional response, the various contractors who assisted by providing requested materials, and its employees for their extreme dedication and commitment during the incident.   

Events like this continue to highlight the importance of proper waste disposal, how flammable materials such as batteries, even if small, should never be disposed of in the black bag.   

This is also a stark reminder of the urgent need to move away from landfilling.