Explosion on Maltese Patrol Boat

Date: September 7, 1984 • Location: Victoria, Malta

An explosion on board a Maltese patrol boat that was disposing of illegal fireworks at sea off Gozo killed seven soldiers and policemen.

The C23 tragedy occurred on 7 September 1984, when the Swift-class patrol boat C23 of the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) was severely damaged by an explosion while dumping illegal fireworks off Qala in Gozo, Malta. Seven people – five soldiers and two policemen – were killed, and the only survivor of the incident was severely injured.