Farmers receive €500,000 in compensation over storm damage

Farmers receiving compensation for freak February storm in 2019, which severely damaged greenhouses and crops

20 July 2020, 5:54pm
by Karl Azzopardi

1 min read

A number of greenhouses were destroyed by the gale force winds

Government will fork out around half-a-million euros in damage compensation to farmers who sustained losses in a freak storm that happened in February 2019.

The information was tabled in parliament by Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo, who was replying to a question by PN MP Edwin Vassallo.

Refalo said 106 farmers will benefit from the funds after signing contracts to receive the compensation. The package will cost government €506,893.

So far, 48 beneficiaries have received €104,287, while a further 14 other beneficiaries will receive payments in the coming week, for a total of €53,448.

The freak storm was described by then prime minister Joseph Muscat as the worst storm since 1982, with windspeeds reaching 133km/h.

486 requests were made to the Civil Protection Department for assistance, while 2,000 calls were made to Enemalta over electrical issues.

Karl Azzopardi is Online Editor and an IGM press awards (Human Stories) winner of 2019