September 7 marks the 36th anniversary of the C23 tragedy when seven people lost their lives when the Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was badly damaged in an explosion.
The patrol boat was tasked with disposing illegal fireworks off Qala in Gozo.
Five soldiers and two policemen lost their lives, one crew member survived but was severely wounded.
The patrol boat C23 was repaired and it returned to service, later being renamed P23. It was decommissioned in 2010 and it now remains at the AFM base at Hay Wharf as a memorial to those killed in the explosion.
Image: Damaged C23..apology for poor quality.
