Karl Stennienibarra
Chaos has erupted on the streets of Malta this evening, a full 10 minutes after the start of industrial action by petrol stations.
As pumps across the island closed at 6pm, hundreds of drivers who had forgotten to fill up their tanks began wandering aimlessly through the streets.
But after a couple of minutes of walking, their confusion turned to anger and they began rioting and looting.
“How am I supposed to drive from my home in Birkirkara to my workplace that’s also in Birkirkara tomorrow if my car doesn’t have petrol in it? Fuck it, let it all burn,” said one motorist as she set fire to her car and several others.
In Msida, a small group of quick-thinking people who hopped on rental bicycles were swiftly thrown into the sea.
However, several buses passed by without incident, seemingly invisible to the rampaging mob.
There have also been reports of people offering sexual favours in exchange for as little as one litre of petrol.
The industrial action comes as petrol station owners refuse to fork out money to upgrade their forecourts to comply with EU environmental regulations.
“I am but a humble provider of fuel. How can you expect me to upgrade my own facilities when I had to spend all my hard-earned money on PA bribes? Oh woe is me!” one owner told Bis-Serjetà.
Petrol stations will be open again tomorrow morning.
