Mater Dei emergency specialist calls for public health review of fireworks sector after Naxxar explosions

One of the most prominent leaders of Mater Dei’s Emergency Department, Consultant Emergency Physician Jonathan Joslin, called on the authorities to launch an evidence-based review of Malta’s fireworks sector following this week’s explosions at the Naxxar fireworks factory.

In a post on social media, Joslin said “the political powers that be” have a responsibility to advocate for policies that protect public health, adding that the latest incident and the sector’s wider impact should be assessed by a multidisciplinary panel.

The proposed panel, he said, should include medical experts, public health specialists, environmental scientists, occupational health professionals, researchers, and representatives of the fireworks industry.

The well-known doctor and university lecturer said the review should examine the effects of chemical pollutants generated during the manufacture and display of fireworks, particularly their impact on respiratory and cardiovascular health.

He also called for scrutiny of occupational risks faced by fireworks workers and any evidence suggesting an increased risk of malignancy linked to prolonged exposure to combustion products and industrial chemicals.

“While the fireworks industry forms an important part of Malta’s cultural heritage and community identity, it is equally important to critically evaluate its potential consequences on public health,” Joslin said.

His comments follow Monday morning’s multiple explosions at a fireworks factory in Triq tal-Qadi, Naxxar, which caused extensive damage in surrounding localities.

The explosions, which occurred at around 6.30am, were strong enough to be heard across several parts of Malta and even as far as Gozo. The factory is managed by the Peace Band Club in Naxxar.

Police later confirmed that all licensed individuals associated with the site were safe. Two men from St Paul’s Bay, aged 67 and 47, who were close to the site at the time of the blasts, were taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment for shock and light injuries.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud is leading an inquiry into the incident. Authorities have not yet said how the explosive materials stored inside the factory were ignited.

When questioned during his first press conference as Prime Minister after the general elections, Robert Abela stated that he is open to the possibility of publishing the results of the inquiry but stopped short of committing fully to doing so.

The same Naxxar factory had also blown up in May 2018, leaving two people seriously injured. In 2015, eight committee members of the same band club were cleared of illegally storing fireworks material in a case linked to another explosion in 2008, which had left one woman dead.

Joslin said any review should weigh the cultural, social and economic benefits of the fireworks industry against its potential health and environmental costs.

“Ultimately, our collective responsibility is to ensure that any policy direction adopted serves the best interests of the Maltese people, balancing tradition with the fundamental duty to protect health, safety, and quality of life,” he said.