Firefighters spent several hours tackling a blaze that broke out in an abandoned building in Gżira, with crews working to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby properties.
Emergency services were called to the scene after smoke was seen coming from the vacant structure in the early hours. Multiple fire engines and support units responded, and teams entered the building to bring the fire under control. The vacant premises had accumulated debris over time, which made it harder to extinguish and increased the risk of flare-ups.
Residents in the surrounding streets were advised to keep windows closed due to smoke, while police cordoned off the area to allow emergency crews to work safely. No injuries have been reported, and officials say it does not appear that anyone was inside the building at the time the fire started.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Authorities are looking into whether it was accidental or deliberate, and will be examining the site once it is safe to do so.
Local council representatives said the building has been a concern for some time and called for faster action on derelict properties in the area. Fire officials have reminded the public to report any signs of squatting or suspicious activity in abandoned buildings, as these sites can pose a serious safety hazard to the community.
Damping down operations continued into the morning to make sure the fire did not reignite.
