A Romanian worker in Rome was rescued by emergency services after being trapped under rubble for hours following the partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum, authorities confirmed. Rome police Chief Lamberto Giannini reported that the man, in a serious condition, was extracted and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Videos on social media and Reuters footage captured parts of the 29-meter Torre dei Conti collapsing twice, with the first incident occurring around 10:30 a.m. local time and the second about 90 minutes later. Dust and debris engulfed the surroundings with the sound of falling debris during the collapses, the latter happening while firefighters were on aerial ladders.
Fortunately, none of the firefighters sustained injuries during the incidents. The rescue operation for the trapped worker was challenging and time-consuming as further collapses occurred each time a part of his body was uncovered, burying him again under the debris.
Another Romanian worker was swiftly rescued and hospitalized with severe but non-life-threatening head injuries, while two additional workers sustained minor injuries and opted out of hospital treatment. The Torre dei Conti, slated for conversion into a museum and conference space, stands along Via dei Fori Imperiali, showing significant internal damage but still upright.
The tower, built by Pope Innocent III for his family in the early 13th century, had its height reduced after earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries. It had been unused since 2006 and was undergoing a four-year renovation project, funded by the EU and set to conclude next year. As a result of the ongoing restoration work, the area surrounding the tower was closed off to pedestrians.