Some areas in Malta are still without power this morning after last night’s nationwide power cut.  An Energy Ministry spokesperson told this newsroom that small pockets in localities such as Qormi, Luqa, Zurrieq, Zabbar and Marsa are still without power due to the fact that they are connected to the Marsa distribution centre.

Power first went out in both Malta and Gozo at 7.45pm last night. All localities and major roads were left in the dark. The power outage was caused by a fault at the Delimara power station, which was followed by an explosion at a distribution centre near the Marsa Industrial centre.

Power was restored in a number of Southern localities and by 20.50pm Fgura, Zejtun, Gudja, Attard and several other localities had power restored.

Street lights at the Mriehel bypass and Tal-Barrani Road were on but none of the traffic lights were working. Power was lost again less than an hour later and the whole nation was again plunged into darkness.

Power was finally restored again in most localities at 23.30pm. But there were some areas that were still without power until about 2am.

An Enemalta statement said: “As Enemalta engineers continue working to restore electricity supply to all areas in Malta and Gozo, Civil Protection Department and Enemalta Fire Section personnel have now managed to control the flames and eliminate risks of further damages at the distribution centre at Marsa.”

During the switching operation to re-energise all localities, at around 10.45pm, supply to all areas was temporarily interrupted again. However, it immediately started being restored.

The initial outage was caused at 7.50pm by a fault at one of the generating units at the Delimara Power Station and an explosion in part of an electricity distribution centre at the Marsa Industrial Estate.

No one was injured in this incident. Police, Civil Protection Department and Enemalta Fire Section personnel, along with other Enemalta workers managed to extinguish the flames and contain the risk of further damages to the equipment at this installation by 11pm.

Police investigations and Enemalta inquiries are now underway.  

For personal assistance, customers are encouraged to contact the Enemalta Customer Care team on 8007 2224. Enemalta said it regretted any inconvenience caused.