Toxic fumes which emanated from a rainwater gutter in St Lucia Street during the consecration of Mgr Cremona on Friday evening are being investigated.

The police and members of the CPD cordoned off the area in what many thought was a normal security measure.   The fumes, which were tested and resulted in being dangerous, could only be investigated at the end of the ceremony.

The manhole was then left open all night to provide better ventilation. When the CPD personnel descended in the cistern on Saturday, the fumes had decreased.

It is still unclear wether the fumes were caused by accident or are a result of foul play by someone intent on disrupting the religious ceremony attended by many.

On the other hand, The Malta Independent on Sunday reported Valletta Rehabilitation Centre (VCR) co-ordinator Ray Bondin saying that he was certain the fumes were the result of built-up pressure in Valletta ’s decrepit drainage system.

VRC has warned time and again that unless the system is properly maintained and aired, this could result in the build-up of very dangerous fumes, especially now that regular maintenance of the system is not being done.