Stqarrija għall-Istampa - Marsaskala Residents Network (MRN)
23 ta’ Jannar 2026
Marsaskala Residents Network (MRN) jesprimi s-solidarjetà tiegħu ma’ dawk kollha li ġew milquta miċ-ċiklun Harry. Madankollu, ma jistax ma jikkummentax dwar diversi reazzjonijiet u suġġerimenti li qed isiru bħalissa rigward l-impatt tiegħu f’Marsaskala u dwar x’jista’ jsir sabiex dak li seħħ nhar it-Tlieta 20 ta’ Jannar ma jerġax jirrepeti ruħu.
Bħalissa, il-midja soċjali hija mimlija b’ideat u suġġerimenti dwar kif sitwazzjonijiet bħal dawn jistgħu jiġu evitati fil-futur. MRN temmen li soluzzjonijiet mgħaġġlin, imxerrda minn influencers jew persuni li mhumiex esperti fil-qasam, jistgħu jwasslu għal aktar ħsara milli ġid. Il-protezzjoni tal-kosta hija dixxiplina speċjalizzata li għandha titwettaq prinċipalment minn inġiniera kostali, b’appoġġ mix-xjenzi ġeoloġiċi, oċeanografiċi u, sa ċertu punt, anke dawk soċjali.
MRN hija tal-fehma li, biex jinstabu soluzzjonijiet sostenibbli u effettivi fit-tul, hemm bżonn l-ewwel nett li nirrikonoxxu li qed nitkellmu dwar fenomenu naturali li mistenni jiżdied kemm fil-frekwenza kif ukoll fl-intensità tiegħu minħabba t-tibdil fil-klima. Huwa irresponsabbli li wieħed jagħti x’jifhem li miżura waħda, meħuda mingħajr studju xjentifiku serju, tista’ ssolvi problema ta’ din il-portata. Dan joħloq sens falz ta’ sigurtà meta fil-verità qed niffaċċjaw forzi naturali qawwija. Ta’ min ifakkar li dan iċ-ċiklun ma kellux impatti koroh f’Malta biss, iżda kkawża ħsarat sinifikanti wkoll f’pajjiżi oħra fosthom fl-Italja.
Ma jistax jiġi injorat ukoll il-fatt li l-livell tal-baħar huwa mistenni jogħla fis-snin li ġejjin. Għaldaqstant, kwalunkwe miżura li tittieħed għandha tqis ukoll dan ir-realtà. MRN jinsisti li interventi fil-kosta u l-bajja għandhom isiru biss fil-kuntest ta’ viżjoni fit-tul, ippjanar serju u integrat, investiment adegwat u rispett sħiħ lejn l-ambjent. Barra minn hekk, dawn id-deċiżjonijiet m’għandhomx ikunu influwenzati minn interessi politiċi parrokkjali jew personali, u l-kosta u l-bajja m’għandhomx jingħataw lill-privat, peress li dan jista’ jxekkel interventi essenzjali fl-interess pubbliku u ambjentali.
MRN ilha tisħaq ukoll fuq il-ħtieġa ta’ trasparenza fir-rigward tal-pjanti tal-proġett tar-riġenerazzjoni ta’ Marsaskala u l-mod kif qed jitwettqu x-xogħolijiet. Kif il-maltempata kaxkret il-pjanci bil-banners li kienu qed jippromwovu l-proġett tul Triq ix-Xatt, deher b’mod ċar li ċ-ċint li s-soltu jpoġġu fuqu n-nies mhux qiegħed hemm. In-nuqqas tiegħu waqt il-maltempata seta’ kkontribwixxa sabiex il-baħar baqa’ dieħel direttament fuq il-pjanċi bil-banners, bil-konsegwenza li dawn spiċċaw jaħbtu mal-faċċati tal-ħwienet. Il-blokki tal-konkos li tpoġġew il-Ħamis fuq in-naħa tal-promenade fejn iċ-ċint għadu mhux lest kienu miżura li ttieħdet tard wisq.
Ma jistax jonqos ukoll li wieħed jinnota l-ħsara li saret fiż-żona ta’ Żonqor. Minbarra l-qawwa tal-baħar, saret ħsara konsiderevoli lill-faċċati ta’ xi residenzi minn biċċiet ta’ ħadid u ġebel li nqalgħu mill-promenade stess. Qabel il-maltempata, kienu bosta dawk li staqsew għaliex din in-naħa ta’ Marsaskala ma ġietx inkluża fil-proġett tar-riġenerazzjoni tal-promenade, minkejja li kienet fi stat ħażin ħafna.
Hemm ukoll il-ħtieġa ta’ evalwazzjoni serja dwar jekk hux aċċettabbli li l-ħwienet jimlew il-bankini b’għamara u oġġetti oħra li jħalluhom hemm matul il-lejl, minkejja li dan imur kontra l-istandards tal-istabbilimenti tal-catering. Dawn l-oġġetti spiċċaw inġarru u kkawżaw aktar periklu waqt il-maltemp.
Dak li seħħ nhar it-Tlieta għandu jkun sinjal ċar li hemm bżonn evalwazzjoni serja u komprensiva ta’ x’għandu jingħata prijorità għall-ġid tar-residenti ta’ Marsaskala. L-Iskalin għandhom id-dritt għal promenade sikura tul il-bajja kollha. Huwa wkoll essenzjali li jiġi restawrat il-Magħluq, li jekk jiġi rranġat b’mod xieraq jista’ jgħin biex jitnaqqsu l-effetti tal-maltempati. Barra minn hekk, irridu nħarsu l-bajja mit-tniġġiż sabiex l-alka terġa’ tieħu s-saħħa u titwal, peress li din għandha rwol naturali importanti fit-tnaqqis tal-qawwa tal-mewġ.
Miżuri bbażati fuq is-soluzzjonijiet tan-natura, flimkien ma’ ippjanar xjentifiku u responsabbli, huma indispensabbli jekk irridu verament nimmitigaw l-effetti tat-tibdil fil-klima u nipproteġu lill-komunità ta’ Marsaskala b’mod sostenibbli u fit-tul.
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Press Statement – Marsaskala Residents Network (MRN)
23 January 2026
Marsaskala Residents Network (MRN) expresses its solidarity with all those who were affected by Cyclone Harry. However, it cannot refrain from commenting on a number of reactions and suggestions currently being made regarding its impact in Marsaskala and what can be done to ensure that what happened on Tuesday, 20 January, does not happen again.
At present, social media is full of ideas and suggestions on how such situations can be avoided in the future. MRN believes that quick fixes, spread by influencers or individuals who are not experts in the field, can cause more harm than good. Coastal protection is a specialised discipline that should primarily be carried out by coastal engineers, with support from geological and oceanographic sciences and, to a certain extent, also the social sciences.
MRN is of the view that, in order to identify sustainable and effective long-term solutions, it is first necessary to recognise that we are dealing with a natural phenomenon that is expected to increase in both frequency and intensity due to climate change. It is irresponsible to imply that any single measure, taken without serious scientific studies, can solve a problem of this magnitude. This creates a false sense of security when, in reality, we are facing powerful natural forces. It should be recalled that this cyclone did not have severe impacts in Malta alone, but also caused significant damage in other countries, including Italy.
Nor can the fact be ignored that sea levels are expected to rise in the coming years. Any measures taken must therefore also take this reality into account. MRN insists that interventions along the coast and in the bay should only be carried out within the context of a long-term vision, serious and integrated planning, adequate investment, and full respect for the environment. Furthermore, such decisions should not be influenced by parochial political or personal interests, and the coast and the bay should not be handed over to private interests, as this could hinder essential interventions in the public and environmental interest.
MRN has also long been insisting on the need for transparency regarding the plans of the Marsaskala regeneration project and the manner in which the works are being carried out. As the storm swept away the panels with banners promoting the project along Triq ix-Xatt, it became clear that the promenade parapet wall was not in place. Its absence during the storm may have contributed to the sea continuing to hit the panels with banners directly, resulting in them crashing into the façades of shops. The concrete blocks that were placed on Thursday on the promenade side to make up for the missing parapet wall were a measure taken far too late.
One cannot fail to note the damage that occurred in the Żonqor area. In addition to the force of the sea, considerable damage was caused to the façades of some residences by pieces of metal and stone that were torn from the promenade itself. Before the storm, many had asked why this part of Marsaskala was not included in the promenade regeneration project, despite being in a very poor state.
There is also a need for a serious evaluation of whether it is acceptable for shops to fill pavements with furniture and other objects and leave them there overnight, despite this being contrary to catering establishment standards. These items were carried away and created additional danger during the storm.
What happened on Tuesday should be a clear signal that a serious and comprehensive evaluation is required of what should be prioritised for the benefit of Marsaskala residents. The residents of Marsaskala have the right to a safe promenade along the entire bay. It is also essential that the Magħluq is restored, as if it is properly rehabilitated it can help reduce the effects of storms. Furthermore, we must protect the bay from pollution so that the Posidonia oceanica can regain strength and grow, since it plays an important natural role in reducing the power of waves.
Nature-based solutions, together with scientific and responsible planning, are indispensable if we truly wish to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the Marsaskala community in a sustainable and long-term manner.