Disasters in Malta

Malta and Gozo use a national civil protection system involving the CPD, the Civil Protection Council, the Malta Police Force, the Armed Forces of Malta, health, transport, environmental and energy authorities, local councils and voluntary organisations. The Malta Airport Meteorological Office issues weather information, while the Energy and Water Agency manages flood-risk planning and the Malta Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit coordinates protection of essential services. The Climate Action Authority contributes to climate resilience planning for flooding, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion. Commonly relevant hazards include gale-force winds, rough seas, intense rainfall, flash floods and heatwaves. Officially identified emergency categories also include hurricanes and floods, structural fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, epidemics and pandemics, industrial emergencies and other events that threaten many people, the environment or essential infrastructure. Malta and Gozo follow the same national civil protection framework, with a CPD station in Gozo and marine coverage for the islands and territorial waters. Weather warnings use yellow and red levels. Official notices from the CPD and Gov.mt, Malta Airport Meteorological Office forecasts and official social-media channels provide instructions. During an active severe-weather warning, people should stay away from the coast and sea, follow access restrictions and avoid trying to secure or adjust outdoor items while conditions are dangerous. CPD officers can prohibit access to a danger area during a disaster or emergency, and entering a closed area or unstable structure can place both the public and rescuers at risk. Emergency preparedness starts with an emergency bag containing basic medicines, a torch, water and important documents. CPD information covers tsunami, earthquake and home-fire safety, and public visits are offered through fire stations in Malta and Gozo, including marine and urban search-and-rescue capabilities. A 2026 emergency manual and a fire blanket for every family in Malta and Gozo were announced, but the availability and delivery timing of such measures should be checked through official notices. The CPD operates 10 fire stations and one marine station, with more than 100 fire and rescue appliances and five rescue or firefighting vessels. Call 112 for an immediate danger to life or property. The service is free, available 24 hours a day, and can be reached from any telephone, including one without a SIM card. The Police textphone number is 79770112, and the 112mt app supports calls or messages, location sharing and information about relevant stations and authorities. Use these channels for genuine emergencies so that resources remain available for people facing immediate danger. Evacuation decisions are made for the specific event by the CPD, Police, Armed Forces and other responsible authorities. Malta does not have a publicly documented nationwide register of evacuation paths or emergency shelters. The National Disaster Preparedness arrangements include shelter capacity for up to 500 people and medical treatment capacity for up to 100 people, but actual assistance depends on the event and available resources. Malta Red Cross can provide auxiliary support, land and water rescue and medical assistance, including through its National Disaster Response Team. Critical infrastructure protection requires service companies to assess risks, prepare plans, conduct exercises and exchange information through designated emergency and security liaison officers. Flood planning progresses from a preliminary flood-risk assessment to flood-hazard and flood-risk maps and a flood-risk management plan, which is updated every six years. After a major event, authorities assess damage to public infrastructure, coastal areas, agriculture and essential services. Following Storm Harry in 2026, Malta applied for support from the EU Solidarity Fund after estimating damage at about EUR 128 million against an access threshold of about EUR 121 million. An application is not an automatic payment, and disaster damage does not automatically create a private compensation claim. Cross-border assistance may also be requested through the EU Union Civil Protection Mechanism.