An accident at a scrapyard in Zejtun has left a worker in critical condition, police said on Monday morning.

The police said that the accident happened at around 10:30am in a scrapyard in Triq tal-Barrani in Zejtun.

Preliminary investigations showed that the worker, a 47-year-old man from Argentina, was injured as he was cutting metal with a gas-operated tool which malfunctioned, causing an explosion.

This resulted in the worker suffering severe burns.  He was treated on site and then rushed to Mater Dei Hospital where he was certified as suffering from serious injuries.

Magistrate Renata Farrugia is leading an inquiry while police investigations continue.