The calm of what was expected to be the first day of normality after the general election was shattered yesterday after an illegal fireworks dump blew up and flattened three houses in Naxxar yesterday.

Two people are missing, feared dead, one of them a 33-year-old mother of two and a 57-year-old male, known as Pawlu ta’ Mniehru, who it is understood was working the fireworks in the garage at the time of the explosion. Three bystanders were also taken to hospital, all of them female. One was released after treatment, but two others were kept in for observation.

The blast took place shortly before 11am yesterday in a garage in Hal Dghejf Street, at the end of Pjazza Dar Nino. People reported hearing and seeing the blast from as far away as St Julian’s, Balzan, Mosta and other localities.

The blast reduced three houses to rubble, literally turning them into piles of stones and wreckage. A van parked outside the garage was hurled across the street like a matchbox toy, smashing into a house opposite. The same house was also gutted by fire and sustained considerable structural damage. Glass window panes were smashed on 21 September Avenue, which runs parallel to Hal Dghejf Street, as a result of the blast. Residences in that street were also evacuated as a precaution.

The police set up a large cordon around the area as well as buffer zones. As soon as the blast took place, the whole disaster response team was mobilised to deal with the fallout. The scene literally looked like something similar to a bombing in Iraq with cars strewn every which way, building stones in the street, shards of broken glass, plumes of smoke while the choking acrid stench of burnt cordite and chemicals filled the air. The oppressive sense of worry and fear was palpable.

The police investigated further and it turned out that there were two other garages which were filled with fireworks and as a result, security was tightened and people were evacuated from the surrounding streets. If one garage caused the damage it did, the damage of three would have been unthinkable. It later transpired that the still full garages were situated adjacent to a house which was on fire. The explosives were removed by the Bomb Disposal Unit and this restored a degree of safety.

TMID arrived at the scene within minutes and the first scenes we witnessed were those of anguish, despair and worry as relatives frantically asked the police to be let through the buffer zone to check on their families.

People broke down into tears as they saw that their loved ones were alive and well, the Police Chaplain having his work cut out for him in comforting the worried ones who had not managed to catch up with their relatives.

The Disaster Response Unit was called out, including vast numbers of police officers, nurses, doctors, paramedics, army personnel, members of the Civil Protection Department, Appogg, counsellors and others.

Political divisions were waved away as Dr Michael Gonzi from the Nationalist Party and Dr Michael Farrugia from the Malta Labour Party, both MPs elected from the Naxxar district, arrived at the scene as the drama unfolded, offering support and treating those with minor injuries. It made one and all realise how insignificant the general election was in comparison to what took place yesterday.

Many people were suffering from shock and others were extremely worried about their property. One eyewitness explained the build up. “I was in the shower and all of a sudden, I was thrown out of the shower. I did not know what was happening, but I heard a massive bang, so I went onto the roof to have a look,” she said.

She continued: “As soon as I got on the roof, I heard something like machine gun fire, and I saw a van being flung across the road into the front porch of the house opposite. It was terrifying. Any windows that were open were fluttering as if caught in a gale, it was something I will never forget,” she said.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and deputy Tonio Borg paid a solidarity visit. Later in the afternoon Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca paid a visit as did Archbishop Paul Cremona.

People in the area spoke about the incident and many said that they had strong suspicions that illegal fireworks were stored in the vicinity, but no one ever had proof. One woman had a very lucky escape. “I was supposed to be off today, but I got called into work, thankfully.” Some people were absolutely devastated when they returned home from work to find their houses reduced to rubble. One person sat staring into space… the “thousand yard stare”.

There were, however, some happy endings. A horse emerged unscathed from a stable right next door to one of the flattened houses, led away by a youngster. But by far the most moving story was that of an old dog, 14-year-old Julian. The dog’s owner turned up in Naxxar to find her house on fire. She was allowed in by the police to retrieve some personal items and lo and behold, Julian was found alive and well, but absolutely petrified hiding under an ironing board. He was reunited with his owners and after a few cuddles was soon wagging his tail again, enjoying the attention from all those who came to see him.

By 4pm, the Army were painstakingly removing the rubble stone-by-stone in an effort to not disturb any volatile chemicals which could have caused a secondary explosion. The process was still continuing late into the evening and could, according to experts, carry on late into the early hours of the morning.

Duty Magistrate Miriam Hayman carried out an onsite inquiry and appointed a number of experts to assist, including architect Richard Aquilina, Dr Mario Scerri and others.