Highest number of deaths by fireworks in the last 30 years

Research carried out by Edward Attard shows that since 1882, 169 persons, including nine children died in explosions caused by fireworks in Malta and Gozo. These explosions occurred either in the workshops where the fireworks were being manufactured, or when they were being transported or when being let off.

This year alone so far 10 persons died in firework factory explosions, an all time high because seven of the 12 who died in 1984 were transporting the explosives near the island of Comino, the other five died in factory explosions.

Attard gives these statistics for the last 30 years: there were 65 deaths, 24 of them in Gozo.

1980 - 2; 1981 - 1; 1982 -3; 1984 - 12 (7 of them near Comino); 1985 - 1, 1986 - none; 1987 - 2; 1989 -2; 1990 - 1; 1991 -1; 1992 - 3; 1993 - 2; 1994 - 1; 1995 - 1; 1996 - none; 1997 - 4; 1998 u 1999 - none; 2000 - 2; 2001 - none; 2002 - 1; 2003 - 1; 2004 - none; 2005 - 6; 2007- 8; 2008 - 2, 2009 -1; 2010 - 10.

So in these last 30 years there have only been five in which no fatalities took place.

Fireworks displays (the colourful ones, not the noisy bangs) are impressive and popular but the human cost we are paying is too high. As long as fireworks are going to continue to be manufactured in Malta and Gozo, we need serious regulations that are enforced stringently.

We must make sure that those who make fireworks and handle them are trained professionally and they must be tested continuously to obtain a license. The chemicals imported must be tested regularly.

Fireworks have a long tradition in Malta and there are those who are ready to put their lives at risk to continue this tradition. Better to have fireworks manufactured in seriously regulated places than to make firework factories illegal, pushing this activity into the black economy.

We cannot look the other way while so many people die.