Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/744537
MATTHEW AGIUS THE strong winds that hit Mal- ta over the past days are creat- ing spectacles of nature's fury across various parts of the is- land, mostly coastal areas, with huge waves breaking up spec- tacularly, and causing damage at some places. Photos posted on Facebook, taken at the Portomaso ma- rina, show boats covered in fish slime. Similar sludge was also reported in Zonqor. No accidents were reported as a result of the storm, the Police told MaltaToday, although sev- eral calls were made to report damaged electricity poles, ca- bles and telephone boxes. Photos taken in Sliema showed waves hitting against parked cars, whilst a bus stop was completely destroyed. In Xemxija, photos sent by a Mal- taToday reader showed a sailing boat being swept away by the fierce waves. In Delimara, the LNG tanker appeared to be safe. It was a north easterly tem- pest, a grigalata, which used to be so common – President H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gor- bachev got a taste of one when they visited. But they have be- come somewhat rare – climate change, perhaps? The storm and the strong North East winds caused dam- age at the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian's. The main areas af- fected by the heavy waves were the hotel's Grand Ballroom, the Kontiki Restaurant, the Marion Mizzi Spa and the Indoor pool and gym areas. The hotel said that the areas were closed off and repairs were scheduled to commence with immediate effect. Despite this setback, the hotel was serving breakfast to its guests while other public areas continue to operate. Adrian Attard, Radis- son Blu Resort, St Julian's Gen- eral Manager, said: "We are working around the setbacks that this storm has caused and continue to welcome guests with our usual service delivery." Police advised the public to avoid coastal areas and sea- fronts due to high waves caused by the gale-force winds cur- rently battering the islands. According to the meteorologi- cal office, wind speeds of 22-33 knots, gusting at up to 45 knots, or Force 8 were recorded yes- terday. The winds are expected to die down by today, but rain show- ers will continue to feature. Fair weather is forecast to return by tomorrow. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2016 News The Banking Arrangement is supported by the InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to help support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to financing. Approved and issued by APS Bank Ltd, APS Centre, Tower Street, B'Kara BKR 4012. APS Bank Ltd is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority to act as a licensed Credit Institution under the Banking Act 1994. Terms and Conditions apply. The InnovFin SME Guarantee is a scheme run by the EIF, through which SMEs from eligible business sectors can benefit from lower cost finance, on the basis of a 50% loan guarantee. Facilties range between €25,000 and €2.4 million. The scheme is locally managed by APS Bank. INNOVATE NOW 2122 6644 apsbank.com.mt The explosive pace of technological innovation in everyday life can be traced to 1949, when German engineer Werner Jacobi developed the first microchip. 18468 APS INNOVFIN MASTER ARTWORK.indd 3 06/10/2016 4:33 PM Nature's fury spectacular The storm caused damage at the Radisson St Julian's as heavy waves crashed into the hotel's Grand Ballroom