On Saturday 30th October 1948, 74 years ago today, the day started off normally, with ferry trips from Gozo to Malta and back working like clockwork. But no one knew the tragedy that was awaiting the island that day.
The Gozo ferry MV Bancinu took on the 1:15pm trip, taking passengers from the Mgarr Harbour in Gozo to Marfa in Malta. But, considering the fact that a strong south-westerly wind was blowing, the ferry made its way to St Paul’s Bay rather than Marfa.
The events leading up to a tragedy
In an extensive 2012 article, details of a tragedy that would take place later that day were relived. The 4:30pm trip leaving from Marfa was cancelled because the MV Bancinu took about 75 minutes to get from Mgarr to St Paul’s Bay and back. It also took a longer time for the passengers to disembark, since it didn’t moor properly to the quay.
People boarding the bus from Valletta to Marfa to catch the cancelled 4:30pm were informed, and one passenger called up the manager of Marfa-Mgarr Transport, Mariano Xuereb, who said he was willing to provide a luzzu (fishing boat) for these passengers.
As the day progressed, Xuereb changed his mind about sending the luzzu, so instead, other arrangements were made. Karmnu Grima and Salvu Refalo agreed to do the trip and headed to Marfa, only to find quite a large amount of people waiting: 24 men and one woman, definitely more than they were expecting. The men insisted on making two trips to the island, but the passengers protested, possibly frustrated by the waiting time, and all boarded the small boat.
Sailing to Comino went by without incident, but once the boat passed the small island, the sea became rougher. They were advised to head to Hondoq ir-Rummien creek instead of Mgarr, which is an inlet close to the port. It was reported that the passengers, however, insisted on Mgarr, despite the rough waves. As the small boat approached the port, it could no longer withstand the pounding waves, and capsized near Il-Golf tac-Cawl just after 8pm. The youngest member aboard, Karmnu Attard, managed to make it to shore and call to inform the Mgarr police of the tragedy.
The aftermath
In a statement, Karmnu said that water was getting into the boat and when big waves struck, the passengers panicked, and the boat capsized. They were just 50m away from the shore.
It was all-hands-on-deck from there, with several constables, locals and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pitching in. Thankfully, Michael Buttigieg from Nadur, Pawlu Zammit form Xaghra and Cikku Gauci had also managed to swim safely to shore.
In the inquiry, technical expert Giuseppe Caruana stated that the safety load had been exceeded, saying not more than 13 passengers should have been on that boat. In the days that followed, the corpses of the remaining passengers were recovered from the sea, some even found off Fomm ir-Rih in Malta, six days after the tragedy.
Remembering those who passed away.
Those who tragically lost their lives 71 years ago were: Duminku Attard. Karmnu Azzopardi, Mikiel Azzopardi, Rita Buttigieg, Salvu Buttigieg, Manwel Camilleri, Gorg Curmi, Guzeppi Dingli, Guzeppi Gatt, Gorg Galea, Karmnu Grima, Ganni Mercieca, Wistin Magro, Grezzju Magro, Cikku Portelli, Salvu Refalo, Baskal Sammut, Karmnu Spiteri, Manwel Sultana, Manwel Vella, Pawlu Vella, Guzeppi Scicluna and Manwel Zammit.
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