A worker from Romania was rescued by emergency services in Rome after being trapped under rubble for hours due to a partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum. The worker was taken to the hospital in serious condition. The Torre dei Conti, a 29-meter tower, partially collapsed twice, with clouds of dust and sounds of masonry collapsing. Firefighters were working on the structure when the second incident occurred, but none were injured.
The rescue operation was challenging as further collapses occurred each time a part of the worker’s body was freed. Another Romanian worker was quickly rescued with serious head injuries, while two others sustained minor injuries but declined hospital treatment. The tower, set to be transformed into a museum and conference space, stands along the Via dei Fori Imperiali. Despite significant internal damage, the building remained upright.
Construction on the tower, inactive since 2006, was part of a renovation project funded by the EU and scheduled for completion next year. Closed off to pedestrians due to the restoration work, the tower was constructed in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III for his family, originally twice its current height but reduced after earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries.