| Deaths |
Date |
Incident |
Type |
Location |
Notes |
| 11300 |
24 December 1675 – 15 July 1676 |
1675–1676 Malta plague epidemic |
Epidemic |
Malta |
The plague outbreak was the worst epidemic in Maltese history.[1] |
| 4487–4668 |
28 March 1813 – 8 September 1814 |
1813–1814 Malta plague epidemic |
Epidemic |
Malta and Gozo |
The plague outbreak, imported from Alexandria in Egypt, killed about 5% of Malta's population.[2] |
| 3000 |
7 May 1592 – 1593 |
1592–1593 Malta plague epidemic |
Epidemic |
Malta and Gozo |
The plague outbreak was imported from Tuscan galleys.[3] |
| 600+ |
23 September 1551 (or 1556) |
Grand Harbour of Malta tornado |
Tornado |
Grand Harbour |
The tornado destroyed a number of ships in the harbour with great loss of life.[4] |
| 500+ |
11 September 2014 |
2014 Malta migrant shipwreck |
Shipwreck |
Mediterranean |
A boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized and sank, possibly deliberately, killing the vast majority of the people on board.[5] |
| 871 |
7 March 2020 – ongoing |
COVID-19 pandemic |
Pandemic |
Malta and Gozo |
As of 14 April 2026 .[6] |
| 150–240 |
18 July 1806 |
1806 Birgu polverista explosion |
Explosion |
Birgu |
A gunpowder magazine located dangerously close to residential areas accidentally blew up, killing many soldiers and civilians and causing extensive property damage.[7] |
| 118+ |
25 November 1908 |
SS Sardinia |
Ship fire |
off Fort Ricasoli |
The ship caught fire soon after leaving the Grand Harbour, resulting in a number of explosions and causing it to run aground. This is Malta's worst peacetime maritime disaster.[8] |
| 110 |
11 February 1823 |
Carnival tragedy of 1823 |
Human crush |
Valletta |
A human crush occurred among boys who were being given bread at a convent during carnival, killing around 110 people.[9] |
| 60 |
23–24 November 1985 |
EgyptAir Flight 648 |
Aircraft hijacking |
Luqa |
An EgyptAir aircraft en route from Egypt to Greece was hijacked by terrorists and landed in Malta. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft, resulting in 60 people being killed.[10] |
| 53 |
21 May 2007 |
2007 Malta migrant shipwreck |
Shipwreck |
Mediterranean |
An overloaded boat carrying migrants went missing off Malta and no survivors were found.[11] |
| 50 |
18 February 1956 |
1956 Scottish Airlines Malta air disaster |
Air crash |
Żurrieq |
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Luqa Airport, killing all fifty people on board.[12] |
| 40–45 |
1623 |
1623 Malta plague outbreak |
Disease outbreak |
Malta |
The plague outbreak was contained without a very high death toll.[13][14] |
| 23 |
30 October 1948 |
1948 Gozo luzzu disaster |
Shipwreck |
off Qala |
The overloaded boat capsized and sank, killing 23 of the 27 people on board.[15] |
| 22 |
12 September 1634 |
1634 Valletta explosion |
Explosion |
Valletta |
A gunpowder factory exploded, causing 22 deaths and significant property damage.[16] |
| 22 |
June 1945 – June 1946 |
1945–1946 Malta plague outbreak |
Disease outbreak |
Malta |
The plague outbreak was confined to the harbour area.[17] |
| 20 |
1655 |
1655 Malta plague outbreak |
Disease outbreak |
Malta |
The plague outbreak was contained without a very high death toll.[14] |
| 20 |
4 April 1946 |
1946 Rabat Vickers Wellington crash |
Air crash |
Rabat |
The bomber crashed into a street in Rabat, killing 4 crew members and 16 civilians on the ground.[18] |
| 12 |
April 1936 – May 1937 |
1936–1937 Malta plague outbreak |
Disease outbreak |
Malta |
The plague outbreak was confined to Qormi, Żebbuġ, Rabat, Marsa and Attard.[17] |
| 9 |
3 February 1995 |
Um El Faroud |
Explosion |
Malta Dockyard |
The tanker exploded while in dry dock, killing nine dockyard workers.[19] |
| 7 |
7 September 1984 |
C23 tragedy |
Explosion |
off Qala |
A patrol boat dumping illegal fireworks at sea exploded, killing five soldiers and two policemen on board.[20] |
| 6 |
14 October 1975 |
1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash |
Air crash |
Żabbar |
The bomber crashed in Żabbar after an aborted landing at RAF Luqa, killing five crew members and a civilian on the ground.[21] |
| 6 |
3 December 1995 |
1995 Mediterranean Sea Piper Lance crash |
Air crash |
Mediterranean |
The aircraft was en route from Tunisia to Malta when it went missing over the Mediterranean Sea. All 6 people on board, including 3 Maltese citizens, are presumed dead.[22] |
| 5 |
1 October 2005 |
Rabat–Żebbuġ road vehicle collision |
Road accident |
Rabat/Żebbuġ |
Five teenagers were killed in a vehicle collision which is Malta's worst traffic accident.[23] |
| 5 |
24 October 2016 |
2016 Malta Fairchild Merlin crash |
Air crash |
Kirkop |
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Malta International Airport, killing all five people on board.[24] |
| 4 |
29 March 1903 |
Fort Delimara explosion |
Explosion |
Marsaxlokk |
Defective bombs stored at the fort detonated after children tampered with a bomb in an attempt to open it, killing four.[25] |
| 4 |
2 March – 2 April 1917 |
1917 Malta plague outbreak |
Disease outbreak |
Kalkara |
The plague outbreak was confined to a group of dockyard workers.[17] |
| 4 |
30 December 1952 |
1952 Luqa Avro Lancaster crash |
Air crash |
Luqa |
The bomber crashed in Luqa, killing 3 crew members and 1 civilian on the ground.[26] |
| 4 |
11 July 2008 |
Simshar incident |
Shipwreck |
Mediterranean |
A fishing vessel exploded, leaving the five people on board stranded on a makeshift raft. Four of them subsequently died, with the only survivor being rescued a week after the explosion.[27] |
| 2 |
29 July 1955 |
MV Star of Malta |
Shipwreck |
off St. Julian's |
The passenger ferry ran aground and capsized, killing one crew member and one passenger.[28] |
| 2 |
June 1982 |
1982 Tal-Virtù air crash |
Air crash |
Rabat |
A light aircraft crashed into the seminary at Tal-Virtù, killing both people on board.[29] |