Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541608
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 NOVEMBER 2025 charged with involuntarily damag- tained. has taken place and CCTV footage NEWS KPH isolates and disposes of feed after Marsa scrapyard fire, demands enforcement action KOPERATTIVA Produtturi tal-Ħalib (KPH) has insisted that all potentially contaminat- ed animal feed has been isolated and will be disposed of follow- ing last week's major scrapyard fire in Marsa, while renewing long-standing warnings that its facility faces unacceptable risk from its neighbour. In a statement to the me- dia, the cooperative said it had launched an urgent assessment of its feeds facility, which sits directly beside the JAC Steel scrapyard where the blaze broke out on 21 November. KPH thanked the Civil Pro- tection Department and other emergency responders for pre- venting what it described as a "national-scale disaster", say- ing severe damage to the plant would have had far-reaching consequences for Malta's live- stock sector and food security. The cooperative said its teams immediately secured the area, removed hazards, and began repairs to equipment damaged in the incident. Raw materials and feed that may have been ex- posed to toxic fumes were care- fully isolated and are now being prepared for disposal in line with environmental, veterinary and legal standards, it said. Sampling has been carried out by both the authorities and KPH itself, the statement added. Ar- rangements are also under way to replenish stocks from off-site storage and international sup- pliers to ensure uninterrupted supply to farmers. KPH used the incident to high- light what it called the "ongoing serious danger" it has faced for years due to operating next to a scrapyard. It said it has repeat- edly been flagged to authorities, including through judicial acts. The cooperative said the situ- ation presents an unacceptable threat, citing risks to employee safety, operational continuity, and national food security. It criticised authorities for "beat- ing around the bush" and allow- ing the scrapyard operator to continue trading despite long- standing concerns.= "Last Friday's incident cor- roborates, if ever there was any need, what KPH has long stat- ed that the danger posed by the adjacent scrapyard needs to be addressed before tragedy strikes," it said, calling for en- forcement and consequences for any wrongdoing. KPH reiterated its gratitude to emergency personnel, saying their rapid intervention allowed the cooperative to focus on re- storing operations and protect- ing Malta's farming communi- ty. Former Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi had sounded the alarm bells over the feed facili- ty and its close proximity to the scrapyard. He called for some sort of guarantee that the toxic fumes will not make its way into the local food chain. NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt The Marsa Scrapyard caught on fire on Friday (Photo: Civil Protection Malta) KM Malta Airlines ranked 5th best airline in the world by AirHelp KM Malta Airlines has been ranked the fifth best airline in the world in the 2025 AirHelp Global Airline Survey, placing the Maltese flag carrier among the strongest performers in Eu- rope. The airline scored 7.85 out of 10 in the global ranking of 117 airlines, placing just behind Qan- tas and ahead of Aeromexico, Oman Air and Saudia. AirHelp also rated KM Malta Airlines second worldwide for on-time performance, with a score of 8.7, surpassed only by Oman Air. The AirHelp Score assesses air- lines on punctuality, customer satisfaction and claims-handling efficiency using international flight data and passenger feed- back. Executive chairman David Curmi said the results reflect- ed the team's dedication and growing trust from passengers. "Being ranked 5th best airline worldwide and 2nd worldwide for on-time performance are two important milestones," he said, adding that the airline aimed to continue improving the custom- er experience. Newsbreak in the United States described KM Malta Airlines as a "sleeper hit" for European travel, noting its punctuality and "boutique feel." AirHelp is a global travel tech company that provides support to passengers and publishes its annual ranking as a benchmark of airline reliability and service quality. The airline scored 7.85 out of 10 in the global ranking of 117 airlines, placing just behind Qantas and ahead of Aeromexico, Oman Air and Saudia