The collapse of a building in Paceville last week shocked the country. It was a major tragedy that was, quite literally, narrowly avoided as people were evacuated hours prior.

Tragedy was avoided due to a few who realized that the building, which was located adjacent to a demolition site, was in danger. The architect who subsequently inspected the building filed a report highlighting the danger. Among other things, the architect's report found damage that was not present at the time a condition report had been drawn up last year. It is understood that this report led to the stop works notice being issued on the adjacent construction site.

This country has already had far too many building collapses over recent years. In this case, thankfully action was taken in time to prevent the loss of life.

However, this does not mean that all is well and good. Very far from it. The morning after the incident, Isabelle Bonnici, the mother of the young construction site victim Jean Paul Sofia, asked whether everything will be forgotten in a week just because no-one died. The answer to this question must be absolutely not. It cannot be forgotten. Action must be taken.

The Building and Construction Authority had said that it launched a formal investigation into the collapse. Once that investigation by the authorities concludes, decisive action must be taken. What was the exact cause? Who exactly is responsible? Was there negligence involved? Were there any corners cut? These are some of the questions that need answering.

This incident has also resulted in the precautionary evacuation of people in the surrounding area. This means that there will likely be civil legal action on the horizon also. The owners of part of the building that collapsed also indicated that they are considering legal action.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry on Saturday expressed its deep concern following the incident. It is useless aspiring for quality experience-based tourism and aiming for ambitious spending targets as outlined in Vision 2050, if such critical issues are allowed to persist, the chamber said, and it is absolutely right.

Being in such a dense tourism zone, this could have been a catastrophic tragedy, one that could have, if warning hadn't been raised in time, resulted in horrible loss of life. That would have had massive consequences.

This incident shows that not enough safeguards have been put in place to prevent such incidents from happening. The government must, as a result, update regulations even further.  A building does not just fall apart without reason.

The investigation by the BCA must be swift, precise, and the results must be made public.

So many incidents next to construction sites over the years has created fear for residents in buildings located next to to such sites. A person has the right to feel safe in their own home.