A worker from Romania was rescued by emergency services in Rome after being trapped under rubble for hours following the partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum. Rome police Chief Lamberto Giannini stated that the worker was in a serious condition and had been taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Videos posted on social media and Reuters footage showed parts of the 29-meter Torre dei Conti collapsing to the ground in two incidents, with clouds of dust and the sound of falling masonry. Firefighters were present during the second collapse but were unharmed.
Giannini mentioned that the rescue operation was challenging as further collapses occurred each time a part of the worker’s body was freed, burying him again under the rubble. Another Romanian worker was immediately rescued with serious head injuries, while two others sustained minor injuries and opted not to go to the hospital.
The tower, slated for conversion into a museum and conference space, stands along Via dei Fori Imperiali, a major avenue from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. The building, which had been unoccupied since 2006, was undergoing a four-year renovation project funded by the EU and was expected to be completed next year.
Originally constructed in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III, the tower was once twice its current height but was reduced due to earthquake damage in the 14th and 17th centuries. The area surrounding the tower was closed to pedestrians during the restoration work.
