A nine-year-old girl was seriously injured after she was hit by falling rocks in the Veċċja area of St Paul’s Boy. Her condition is not yet known but this newsroom is informed that she is currently undergoing surgery at Mater Dei Hospital. Sources said the girl was being treated for fractures. 

The victim was injured when part of a cove and stones from a terrace above it collapsed into the sea. Another girl who was in the area suffered some scratches. It was initially reported that both girls had been hospitalised. 

The grandmother of one of the injured girl, who was also swimming in the area, said she had found the girl face down in the water and pulled her out. 

Witnesses also said that other children had been playing in the vicinity but had moved to another area when the rocks collapsed. 

Sources explained that the 9-year-old is not from St Paul's Bay but swims in the area throughout the whole summer. 

Residents said that reports about the instability of the rocks had been filed with the authorities. 

In the meantime it has also been confirmed that the terrace that was damaged in the collapse is part of a house belonging to Labour MP Silvio Parnis, who was on the scene shortly after the incident. 

Photos by Jonathan Borg