Authorities urge public to stay indoors as severe storm hits the islands: school is not obligatory tomorrow

Public authorities have urged citizens to remain indoors over the coming hours unless absolutely necessary, as severe weather conditions continue to affect the Maltese Islands, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri warned on Monday.

Addressing an emergency press conference, the Minister of Home Home Affairs Byron Camilleri outlined a series of precautionary measures being implemented in response to the worsening storm:

• Government workers are being urged to work remotely;

• Schools will remain open on Tuesday, except for three schools;

• All MCAST lectures will take place online on Tuesday;

• Black bag refuse collection will be suspended on Tuesday;

• Gozo ferry services have been suspended;

• The Civil Protection Department is urging the public to stay indoors;

• People should avoid the coastline, and motorists are advised not to park near the sea.

Minister Camilleri said wind strength is expected to increase to force nine by around 1am, with the worst of the storm forecast to subside by 4pm on Tuesday. Later on the Minister of Education Clifton Grima confirmed that school tomorrow is not obligatory.

The warning was issued alongside senior officials from the Armed Forces of Malta, the police and the Civil Protection Department. The minister confirmed that all three entities have deployed additional personnel to deal with any eventualities, while urging the public to use the 112 emergency number only in genuine emergencies.

Earlier on Monday, strong winds had already caused widespread disruption. Gozo ferry services were interrupted, while crossings between Malta and Sicily, as well as ferry services linking Valletta, Sliema and the Three Cities, were cancelled. Sicily-bound services are not expected to resume before Wednesday, and the Barrakka Lift will remain closed throughout Tuesday.

Seawater flooded parts of the Marsascala coastal road, while broken tree branches were reported in several localities, particularly in San Ġwann, where a road was blocked. A bus stop along the Sliema seafront also sustained damage, although no major structural damage was reported.

The Meteorological Office at Luqa said an east-southeast wind is expected to be very strong across the islands, intensifying to gale force. The unstable weather, it explained, is being driven by a low-pressure system over Algeria moving into the central Mediterranean and intensifying as it shifts towards Tunisia, while a high-pressure system establishes itself over the Balkans.

The private Maltese Islands Weather service reported recording gusts of up to 80km/h by 3.30pm and warned that wind strength is expected to continue increasing.

In light of the extraordinary conditions, public sector workers who normally commute between Malta and Gozo have been instructed to work from home wherever possible.