Helios’s aftermath still being cleared as storm moves towards Libya

The Cleaning and Maintenance Division was up on the public holiday of St Paul the Apostle to clean up whatever damage had been left in the wake of Storm Helios.

The head of Malta’s cleansing department, Ramon Deguara, told MaltaToday that places like Xemxija and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, were the worst affected with areas like  Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq’s camping site still closed to the public. “There is a lot to be done,” Deguara said, explaining how the inclement weather on the coast was also preventing the public from parking their cars at viewpoints in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

Significant damage was suffered in Marsaskala, St. Julian’s, and Sliema, particularly on the promenade. “We also had road closures as a result of rubble walls falling in Qrendi, Imqabba, and Ħal Qormi,” Deguara added.

Unfortunately, Deguara fears their efforts might have been in vain because the wind is predicted to kick up once more later on Friday, this time shifting from a strong to a very strong westerly to an extremely strong east-northeast.

Meanwhile, the storm is now moving towards northwest Libya, but a yellow weather warning remains in force and gusts of wind reaching gale-force speeds were still being registered on Friday morning.

For now, it should be a mostly cloudy day with showers of rain or hail, becoming thundery at times. Visibility will be good becoming moderate to poor, in showers.