Part of a wall in one of the apses of the Tarxien Temples collapsed during the heavy rains that fell during the early hours of last Wednesday. The area affected is a dry-stone wall built by Themistocles Zammit during the second decade of the twentieth century, in order to help define and preserve the form of the prehistoric structure.

Circa ten of the dry-stone blocks forming the southwest apse of the South Temple have fallen out of place. Some blocks in the outer dry-stone wall of the same area were also dislodged.

Heritage Malta has reported the collapse to the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, and will be preparing and submitting method statements for the conservation of the affected areas.

The Scientific Committee for the Conservation of the Megalithic Temples has recommended that a shelter be installed over the Tarxien Temples to help protect them from the elements.

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