Today, 25th November, marks 117 years since what is widely regarded as Malta’s worst peacetime maritime disaster - often referred to as Malta’s counterpart of the Titanic, as referenced in Kevin Aquilina’s Facebook post. On this same day in 1908, the steam ship Sardinia caught fire while exiting the Grand Harbour, a tragedy in which at least 118 people lost their lives.

The Sardinia was carrying 39 crew members, 12 first class passengers and 142 steerage passengers, mainly Muslims from Morocco on their way to Mecca, including many women and children. The ship also carried general cargo, including stores of nitrate and naphtha, both of which are highly flammable substances. 

Later investigations concluded that the fire originated in one of the ship’s holds, and it was probably caused through the pilgrims' negligence, as survivors claimed to have observed cooking fires on deck. The inquiry also found out that there were no actual precautions to prevent fire on board the vessel, unfortunately causing chaos once the fire began. 

Had you heard of this tragic event from Malta's maritime past?