A medieval tower in Rome collapsed. A worker pulled out from under the rubble has died

On Monday, a disaster occurred in Rome during the renovation of the medieval Torre dei Conti tower, located near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. During the works, part of the structure collapsed twice. Four of the nine workers were trapped. Rescuers reached three of them after the first collapse.

Torre dei Conti collapsed

Fourth – Octay Stroici was freed by rescuers at 11 p.m. local time, only twelve hours after part of the tower collapsed. Residents and tourists gathered at the site began to cheer as rescuers reached the worker and pulled him out of the tower window. Unfortunately. The 66-year-old’s life could not be saved. The patient was admitted to hospital at 11:05 p.m. with cardiac arrest and, despite continued cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he died. The Romanian Foreign Ministry said he was a Romanian citizen, as was another worker who was pulled from the rubble.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Lazio Region President Francesco Rocca expressed their condolences to the victim’s loved ones.

A complicated rescue operation

The rescue operation was complicated and long-lasting. It had to be interrupted when the second part of the 29 m high tower began to fall apart again, and a huge cloud of dust rose from the falling bricks.

The Prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, emphasized that it was necessary to limit the huge risk to which the services conducting the operation were exposed. No firefighters were injured.

The tower was built on the orders of Pope Innocent III. It had been susceptible to structural damage since the earthquake of 1349. It was closed in 2007, and one of the largest grants under the National Reconstruction and Renovation Plan “Caput Mundi” (NRRP) was allocated for renovation.

The prosecutor’s office in Rome opened an investigation into both negligence and criminal negligence.