The banister shattered under their collective weight early today, with many falling the height of a one-story building. Injuries included fractures and cuts from glass shards.
The health parliamentary secretary, Chris Fearne, told reporters that two girls, ages 13 and 15, were critically injured, while 15 others are being treated in the hospital.
Police are investigating a possible gas leak. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat expressed concern that laws regarding age limits in nightclubs were not being observed, promising tough action by the government. The minimum age for entering nightclubs is 17.