A worker from Romania was rescued by emergency responders in Rome after being trapped under debris for several hours following the partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum. According to Rome police Chief Lamberto Giannini, the worker was in serious condition and was promptly 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 again about 90 minutes later. Dust and the sound of falling masonry filled the air during the incidents, with the second collapse occurring while firefighters were using aerial ladders to work on the structure.
Fortunately, none of the firefighters sustained injuries during the rescue operation. The challenging rescue process was prolonged as further collapses occurred each time a part of the trapped worker’s body was uncovered, burying him again under the rubble.
Another Romanian worker was quickly rescued and hospitalized with serious head injuries, while two additional workers sustained minor injuries but declined hospitalization. The tower, slated for conversion into a museum and conference space, sits along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, a key avenue leading to the Colosseum from Piazza Venezia.
Although the building remained standing, it displayed significant internal damage. The tower, initially constructed 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, scheduled for completion next year. As a result of the restoration work, pedestrian access around the tower was restricted.