The Building and Construction Authority has issued an immediate stop order at a Naxxar construction site after foundation walls gave way, forcing approximately ten families from their homes in what authorities are calling a precautionary evacuation. Residents spent the night in a hotel while engineers assess whether the partially collapsed structure poses an imminent danger to adjacent properties.
Why This Matters
• Safety response: The Civil Protection Department and police remain on-site monitoring the stability of the damaged building on Triq il-Milizzja corner with Triq is-Seneskalk.
• Regulatory intervention: Both the BCA and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) have launched investigations into potential violations of Malta's construction safety regulations.
• Accountability question: Civil society groups are demanding publication of all prior inspection reports and calling for reforms to the island's enforcement regime.
• Developer stance: Anton Camilleri, the developer known locally as "tal-Franċiż," maintains there is "no danger" despite the evacuations.
What Happened at the Site
On the evening of May 14, residents reported alarming cracks in a three-storey wall at the construction site after supporting columns began to fail. Police and Civil Protection personnel evacuated nearby households and established a perimeter. By the following morning, additional narrow supporting walls forming part of the building's foundations had collapsed, prompting authorities to extend the evacuation zone.
The site occupies a large plot that was incorporated into Naxxar's development zone in 2006, reflecting the expansion of buildable land that has driven Malta's construction boom over the past two decades. The incident has reignited longstanding debates about whether the pace of development has outstripped the capacity of regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Regulatory Framework Under Scrutiny
Malta's construction safety regime underwent a significant overhaul with the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Work at Construction Sites) Regulations, 2025, which came into full force in September 2025. These regulations place explicit obligations on clients, contractors, and project supervisors to conduct risk assessments, maintain health and safety plans, and notify OHSA of projects exceeding certain thresholds.
Under the new framework, a Project Supervisor for Health and Safety must be appointed for every construction project and holds the authority to halt work immediately if serious and imminent risk is detected. The supervisor can also order unsafe equipment or materials to be dismantled or removed. Clients—the project owners—are legally responsible for ensuring these plans are in place before site setup begins.
The Building and Construction Authority oversees structural integrity and is currently drafting Malta's first comprehensive National Building and Construction Code, which will include 17 building codes and 6 construction codes covering everything from structural stability to safe demolition practices. The code aims to align Maltese standards with European norms, a process that has been under way for several years but remains incomplete.
What This Means for Residents
For homeowners living near active construction sites, the Naxxar incident underscores the importance of understanding your rights and the mechanisms available for reporting safety concerns. If you observe structural instability, cracks in adjacent buildings, or other alarming conditions, you can:
• Contact the BCA directly to report dangerous structures. Architects and civil engineers are legally obliged to notify the BCA when working on buildings deemed at risk of collapse.
• Notify OHSA if you suspect violations of site safety regulations, including inadequate risk assessments or the absence of a health and safety plan.
• Document changes to your property with photographs and written records, which may be critical if you later need to pursue compensation.
Under Article 1638 of the Civil Code, the architect or engineer (known as a perit) and the contractor share joint responsibility for structural stability. If a collapse or danger of ruin occurs within fifteen years due to construction or ground defects, they can be held liable. Building owners can also be held responsible for damage caused by a fall if it results from lack of repairs or construction defects, provided they were aware or had reasonable grounds to know of the defect.
Developer's Position and Enforcement Actions
Anton Camilleri, the developer behind the Naxxar project, has publicly stated that there is "no danger" to surrounding properties, a claim that contrasts sharply with the decision by authorities to evacuate multiple households. The BCA's stop notice remains in effect, and site investigations are ongoing in collaboration with the Civil Protection Department.
As of now, no specific safety violations or building code breaches have been officially detailed or publicly reported. However, the involvement of both the BCA and OHSA in the investigation suggests that authorities are examining whether the site complied with mandatory risk assessment procedures, whether a valid health and safety plan was in place, and whether the appointed Project Supervisor exercised appropriate oversight.
Failure to comply with the 2025 regulations can result in administrative penalties, criminal prosecution, and temporary site shutdowns. All duty holders—including clients, contractors, and supervisors—may face liability if they fail to meet their obligations. The new framework also includes mandatory licensing for demolition, excavation, and building contractors, which was fully enforced starting in 2025 to ensure accountability across the sector.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Civil society organisations, including Momentum and the Alternative Democratic Party (ADPD), have called for a full independent investigation into the Naxxar incident and broader reforms to Malta's planning and construction enforcement regime. Both groups have demanded the immediate publication of all inspection reports, risk assessments, and enforcement actions related to the site, arguing that transparency is essential to rebuild public confidence in the regulatory system.
The organisations point to what they describe as a pattern of overdevelopment on the island, where rapid expansion of the construction sector has placed increasing strain on regulators and raised questions about whether enforcement is sufficiently robust to prevent safety incidents. Malta's construction industry has been a key driver of economic growth, but critics argue that the pace of building has come at the cost of public safety and quality of life.
Next Steps for Evacuated Families
The evacuated families remain in temporary accommodation while structural engineers complete their assessment of the site. A government minister described the evacuations as a "precautionary measure" following complaints from residents, emphasizing that public safety is the priority.
Once the investigation is complete, authorities will determine whether the building can be stabilised and construction resumed, or whether demolition is required. Residents may be entitled to compensation if it is found that the developer or project supervisor failed to comply with legal obligations, though such claims can be complex and may require legal advice.
For now, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in Malta's densely built environment and the critical importance of rigorous enforcement of construction safety standards.
