Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547048
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 9 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS Minor fire at Citadel Cinema cafeteria leads to cancellation of screenings A minor fire that broke out in a coffee grinder at the cafeteria at- tached to Citadel Cinema in Vic- toria yesterday led to the cancella- tion of scheduled screenings as a precautionary measure. In a statement, Citadel Cinema said the fire was brought under control within a matter of seconds and did not develop into a signifi- cant blaze. However, due to the presence of smoke, management decided to cancel the cinema screenings as a precaution, stressing that the safe- ty and wellbeing of customers and staff remained its highest priority. All customers affected by the cancellations were immediately refunded the cost of their tickets. Emergency services, including ambulance personnel and the Civ- il Protection Department, were also called to the scene to ensure that the premises were fully safe and that there was no remaining risk. As an additional precaution, the two cafeteria employees who were present at the time of the incident were taken to hospital for medical checks. Both were subsequently released and are reported to be well. Citadel Cinema said that the incident was minor, was brought under control within seconds and did not result in any serious inju- ries. The cinema also addressed me- dia reports concerning the inci- dent, saying that some reports may have created the impression that a more serious fire had taken place. Management appealed to media organisations that reported on the incident to clarify the circum- stances and update their reports accordingly, in order to avoid causing unnecessary concern or alarm among the public. The cinema said that the safety of its customers, employees and visitors will always remain its fore- most priority. A minor fire that broke out in a coffee grinder at the cafeteria attached to Citadel Cinema in Victoria yesterday led to the cancellation of scheduled screenings as a precautionary measure THE front of the historic Qol- la l-Bajda Battery in Żebbuġ, Gozo, has been fenced off af- ter repeated warnings to visi- tors were ignored. Din l-Art Ħelwa – Għawdex said the decision to install fencing had been taken as a safety measure following a summer during which people continued to light barbecues close to, and even directly be- neath, the historic structure. "We had hoped that such a measure would not yet be necessary," the organisation said in a social media post. However, repeated warnings and signage failed to stop the practice, prompting the or- ganisation to restrict access to the front of the Battery. Din l-Art Ħelwa said the fencing was installed with the assistance of the Żebbuġ Gozo Local Council, which made its truck available to transport the fencing to the site. The organisation thanked everyone involved in the in- stallation, as well as the local council, for its assistance. The Qolla l-Bajda Battery is a historic coastal fortification overlooking Xwejni Bay and is one of Gozo's surviving mili- tary structures. The latest intervention highlights concern over the impact of visitor behaviour on Malta's and Gozo's increas- ingly fragile historic heritage, particularly at sites that re- main accessible to the public. Historic battery fenced off after visitors held barbecues near the structure LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt The Qolla l-Bajda Battery is a historic coastal fortification overlooking Xwejni Bay and is one of Gozo's surviving military structures Citadel Cinema, Victoria