The Council of the Kamra tal-Periti said Thursday it has immediately initiated an investigation upon learning of the collapse of an apartment block in Paceville last night. While the investigation is still ongoing, a clear picture of what happened is beginning to emerge, the chamber said in a statement.

At the onset, the Council feels it is opportune to commend the two periti (architects) who raised the alarm with the authorities leading to the evacuation of the building. Without their timely action, at least 32 lives could have been lost.

The Council must also commend the public authorities, particularly the BCA, OHSA, Perit Nadia Curmi, and the police, for taking decisive action to avert what could have been a tragedy of proportions not witnessed in living memory.

Nevertheless, the role of a number of periti directly or indirectly involved in the incident is subject of an ongoing disciplinary investigation which will ascertain if there was any professional negligence or misconduct leading to the collapse of the building last night, the chamber said.

This incident, however, reinforces the Kamra tal-Periti's considered opinion that the building and construction reform, which it was recently entrusted by the Government to lead, must not be solely limited to new buildings, but must also encompass all existing buildings.

This means that a review of the existing building stock and a strategy for retrofitting, maintenance, and repair must form part of the overall exercise that is currently being undertaken. The Kamra said it will indeed be putting such proposals to the stakeholders being consulted about the draft building and construction regulations.