Seven people have been taken to hospital for treatment after two private coaches carrying tourists crashed in Mellieha, Health Minister Chris Fearne said. The injured include a driver of one of the vehicles.
In two tweets on his Twitter account, the minister said there were mainly minor injuries following the accident,
He later said seven patients had been taken to Mater Dei Hospital, while another two were taken to the Mosta Health Centre.
Some of the passengers were given first assistance by members of the Red Cross Society.
The accident happened just before 2pm at the Mellieha by-pass.
A statement issued by the police read that one of the vehicles, a Volvo B10M that was being driven by a 24-year-old from Mosta, while the other was a Man-MCV Evolution driven by a 35-year-old from Birzebbugia.
Those taken to hospital are the 24-year-old driver, an Italian 18-year-old girl, three Italian males aged 18-21, and two Irish women aged 26 and 28. The police said that nobody is at risk of losing their lives. The driver had slight injuries, and some of the passengers who were taken to hospital are in shock. None suffered any serious injuries.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Minister Fearne later tweeted again, thanking the police, CPD, ambulance crews and the Rapid Response Team for their efficient and prompt acion.
Photos by Martin Agius and CMRU.