The front page story picture of your sister daily on 17th January relating to the fire tragedy in a crowded location, was eloquent indeed and should raise awareness on the danger, everything weighed and considered.
Entrepreneurs and indeed, the authorities should make sure that crowded confines have an easy and satisfactory exit in case of emergency.
A case often pointed out, which can create disaster with great loss of life, is the ferry service between the two islands where a bottleneck of three or four could spell death to hundreds. Reading the paper on board, I have often heard passengers express fear and concern as to what the outcome to so many people would be, if someone dropped a cigarette on the floor below, where a sea of cars with highly inflammable fuel awaits ignition, and other considerations.
What Malta needs is not a bridge or a tunnel, which many people think would be a terrible blunder. The true need, as the only logical alternative, is to increase the number of ferries generously and as needed that satisfy - clean, modern, fast and comfortable, and above all else, safe by current standards in every way, and round the clock.
Surely, we do not need calamity to attract urgent attention to these dangers. Current news and seven millennia of civilised history should tell.
Dr Joe Zammit Tabona
St Julian's