A Romanian worker was rescued by emergency services in Rome after being trapped under rubble for hours due to the partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum. Rome police Chief Lamberto Giannini confirmed that the man was in a serious condition and had been taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Videos on social media and Reuters footage captured parts of the 29-meter Torre dei Conti collapsing twice, first around 10:30 a.m. local time and then again about 90 minutes later. Clouds of dust and the sound of falling masonry accompanied the dramatic events. The second collapse occurred while firefighters were using aerial ladders on the structure, but fortunately, none of the firefighters were harmed.
The rescue operation was challenging as further collapses kept occurring each time a part of the worker’s body was freed, burying him under the rubble again. Another Romanian worker was swiftly rescued and hospitalized with serious head injuries, while two more workers sustained minor injuries but opted not to go to the hospital.
The Torre dei Conti, set to be transformed into a museum and conference space, stands on Via dei Fori Imperiali, a key avenue leading from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. Although the tower remained upright, it displayed significant internal damage.
The building, originally constructed for Pope Innocent III’s family in the early 13th century, had its height reduced after earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries. It had been undergoing a four-year renovation project funded by the EU, with the surrounding area closed off to pedestrians. The tower, once used for city hall offices but abandoned since 2006, is expected to complete renovations next year.
