Worker atop submerged excavator as Sliema hotel site floods The Strand

The water came fast. Video footage shows a construction worker perched on top of a semi-submerged excavator at Carlo Stivala's hotel development site at the bottom of Triq San Vincenz in Sliema, the machinery still digging into the ground while almost entirely swallowed by seawater. Before the situation was brought under control, large volumes of water poured from the plot and spilled across parts of The Strand.

The Building and Construction Authority stepped in on Friday, 5 June 2026, halting all works after receiving reports of water discharge from the site. The BCA said it took "immediate action" and has opened a formal investigation that includes reviewing video footage captured over the construction zone. The authority is also imposing additional conditions on the project, requiring the mandatory use of specialised machinery and equipment to ensure works are carried out safely and in full compliance with regulatory standards.

The BCA noted that the works are being carried out below sea level as part of efforts to stabilise the foundations of both the development itself and the adjoining properties. The authority said it is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with affected third parties and the appointed technical experts overseeing assessment of the works.