A flare fired from a boat narrowly misses volunteers guarding turtle nests in Ramla l-Ħamra

A flare fired horizontally from a boat anchored in Ramla Bay narrowly missed volunteers guarding three turtle nests on the beach, Nature Trust said on Saturday.

The incident occurred on Friday night and was reported to police and the Environment and Resources Authority. No one was injured, but the flare landed in the protected sand dunes at Ramla l-Ħamra and caused a fire.

According to the Nature Trust, volunteers reported that the flare narrowly missed the group on the beach, their pavilions and nests, raising alarm.

Firing flares is prohibited unless assistance is required, in which case the flares are usually fired vertically rather than horizontally.

At the time of the incident, the three turtle nests were being monitored by Nature Trust volunteers and a security officer from the Gozo Ministry.

Due to three nests of loggerhead turtles, one of which is in its third night of breeding, an environmental protection ordinance is currently in place for the bay and beach.

“We hope those responsible will be identified,” Nature Trust said in a statement.

The police investigation is ongoing.