SEVERE WINDS CAUSED BY TLC – 7th November 2014

a Tropical-like Cyclone formed to the east of Tunisia and slowly moved eastwards towards the Maltese Islands with its eye passing exactly overhead late in the afternoon and early evening.

The storm forced a suspension of operations at the airport, Gozo Channel and Malta Freeport, uprooted trees and caused a traffic nightmare. Several cars were damaged as trees were uprooted and walls were demolished in various locations.

Several electricity poles were also brought down and there was a blackout in Rabat, Mgarr, Bahrija and Mtahleb and parts of Mellieha, Bugibba and St Paul’s Bay.

Many cars stalled in flooded streets in low lying areas, particularly Msida as well as Birkirkara and even a stretch of the Birkirkara Bypass.Traffic jams were reported all over the country because of the flooding, uprooted trees and overturned signs or billboards. Three people also had to be rescued from that were filling up with water.