Malta to turn to EU for help over damage from storm

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Monday that his country would be evaluating the damage caused by a massive storm over the weekend in order to determine whether it can apply for European funding to deal with the aftermath.

Addressing the parliament, Muscat said the weekend's storm had seen wind gusts reach a record 72 knots, or 133 km/h. Muscat said the storm was the worst to have hit the country since 1982.

Where possible, Muscat said the government would be stepping in to aid those who were affected worst, noting however that the government could not take the role of private insurance provider.

Muscat said his government would be looking to help farmers who had suffered significant damage as a result of the storm. The government, he said, would be looking to have state aid rule waived given the circumstances in order to be able to intervene.