Rest in peace: 10 years ago today, an Gharb fireworks factory explosion claimed four lives
A plaque has been erected to commemorate the victims’ lives.
4th November 2012 has gone down in history as a tragic day for the quaint Gozitan town of Gharb.
At around 2:40pm on the day, the island of Gozo was shaken after an Gharb fireworks factory, known as the Qalb Ta’ Gesù Fontana Brothers Fireworks Factory, exploded.
Explosion at Gharb fireworks factory 2012. Several killed 03
Posted by Alex Tyrrell on Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Another explosion followed soon after, and one last explosion was registered at around 3:30pm, as search parties were looking for survivors.
On the day, three men were confirmed dead as a result of the explosion, whilst another was marked missing.
Bhal llum seba snin, 4 ta' Novembru 2012 tlifna 4 hbieb Gorg Gatt ( iz- ziju), Peppi Cini ( il-Furnar), Mario Gauci u...
Posted by Paul Gatt on Monday, November 4, 2019
The fourth victim was found the day after, on Monday 5th November, marking the end of the rescuers’ search for survivors.
The four victims of this tragedy are Gorg Gatt, Mario Gauci, Peppi Cini, and Brian Portelli, who was just 26 years old when the accident took place.
10 snin mit-tragedja tal-Kamra tan-Nar "Fontana Brothers Qalb ta' Ġesù Fireworks Factory". Huwa xieraq li minn qalbna niftakru u nirringrazzjaw lil Guzeppi Cini u Gorg Gatt.
Posted by Kummissjoni Żgħażagħ Fontana on Thursday, November 3, 2022
Since then, a plaque has been erected on site to commemorate the victims’ lives.
An organisation by the name of Kummissjoni Zghazagh Fontana took to social media earlier today to pay tribute to two of the explosion’s victims: Guzeppi ‘Peppi’ Cini and Gorg Gatt.
Rest in peace!
Alex Tyrell / Facebook, Paul Gatt / Facebook