VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Gozo was hit by a major electricity outage on Friday evening after two of the three 33kV high-voltage feeders supplying the island from Malta developed faults.
Enemalta said technical teams were working to locate the faults so repairs could begin, while additional teams and mobile generators were being deployed to restore supply where technically possible.
With only one feeder operational, the network lacked sufficient capacity to supply all affected customers. One of Gozo’s two distribution centres was also affected.
Electricity was being restored progressively as alternative sources became available, Enemalta said, while apologising for the disruption, particularly amid the prevailing extreme heat.
The outage, however, quickly reignited anger among residents and tourists, with social media posts expressing frustration at yet another major power interruption during a sweltering summer.
Many questioned how Gozo and Malta could continue experiencing widespread blackouts despite repeated assurances and significant investment in the electricity distribution network.
Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg was among those directly affected, experiencing a power cut while conducting home visits in his Gozo district.
In a video posted on Facebook, Borg said his aides told him that “more than half of Gozo had no electricity”.
“In 2026, we shouldn’t still be experiencing this type of power cut,” Borg said, calling for Energy Minister Miriam Dalli to take political responsibility.
Borg also called for the Public Accounts Committee to discuss an Auditor General-commissioned report and questioned the government over more than €100 million it says has been invested in Malta and Gozo’s electricity distribution system.
The latest outage comes as Malta faces its second heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to feel as high as 46°C over this weekend.
Health authorities have warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause serious illness, particularly among elderly people, children, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions.
The public has been urged to drink water regularly, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours and remain in cool or shaded areas where possible.
The extreme weather has also been accompanied by continuing deteriorating air quality caused by a major Saharan dust cloud crossing the central Mediterranean.
Monitoring stations operated by the Environmental and Resources Authority have recorded poor to very poor air quality in several locations, while Għarb in Gozo was reporting moderate conditions.
The heatwave is expected to ease from Sunday into Monday, with maximum temperatures forecast to fall by around 4°C.
Nevertheless, temperatures will remain above 30°C, with “feels like” temperatures reaching around 36°C in the coming days.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
