The safety mechanism of the recently inaugurated two-million-euro Upper Barrakka lift failed to function following Friday’s power outage.

The safety mechanism enables the elevator to return safely to ground level.

The lift links the lower part of the city – that close to the Valletta waterfront where cruise-liners berth – to the centre of Valletta. The project was handled by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation after bids from private companies were found unsatisfactory by the government.

When contacted by The Malta Independent online and asked to confirm whether a number of people had been trapped in the lift as a result of the power cut, Transport Malta confirmed that two people were trapped in the 58-metre-high Barrakka lift.

TM said: “During the power cut there were only two persons in one of the lift cabins who waited for some minutes until the lift eventually returned safely to the lower base.

“The automatic safety feature was not triggered. This feature was triggered manually by the lift attendants."

TM added that the safety of the persons in the lift was never jeopardised. Following the safety mechanism failure, the Authority has asked the lift suppliers to look into the reasons why the automatic safety feature did now work.

The lift can transport up to 800 people per hour, each of its two cabins taking up to 21 passengers.

The lift stands on the same site as the lift which started operating in 1905 and which was decommissioned in 1973. It was dismantled in 1983.