The Malta Independent photographer and videographer Jonathan Borg took exclusive underwater photos and footage which show the columns that supported the Barracuda Restaurant balcony and other debris which collapsed on Monday. The two columns seen in the pictures/footage held up the balcony until its collapse.

The columns under water ended up a few metres away from each other on the seabed close to the roacks just underneath the restaurant. While Balluta Bay is relatively deep, the part beneath the balcony is very shallow and a reef protrudes the surface close to the shore. 

Eight French tourists were injured following the collapse of the balcony. One of them was for a time in critical condition.

Photo below shows the columns supporting the balcony before its collapse on Monday.