Rome: worker trapped and one injured after part of medieval tower collapses

[muriel_volestrangler]

A medieval tower in central Rome has partly collapsed twice during renovations, trapping one worker on an upper floor and injuring another.

Falling debris from the initial collapse of the Torre dei Conti, close to the Roman Forum ruins, just after 11.30am (1030 GMT) hit a 64-year-old worker, the Ansa news agency reported. He was taken to San Giovanni hospital in a critical condition. Francesco Rocca, Lazio’s regional president, said the worker’s injuries were not life-threatening.

With hundreds of tourists and passersby looking on, firefighters rescued three other workers from scaffolding on the 29-metre tower. During the operation, at about 1pm, an internal section of the tower collapsed, leaving one worker trapped on an upper floor.

“We are trying to get him out alive but the situation is complex because of the risk of further collapses,” said the national fire department spokesperson, Luca Cari. The worker was reported to be “vigilant” and rescuers were assisting him with breathing.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/03/rome-tower-collapse-torre-dei-conti-italy

First built in the 13th century. Any brick building that tall and that old must be a bit dodgy.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Worker pulled from partially collapsed medieval tower in Rome

A worker who was trapped after part of a medieval tower collapsed in the heart of Rome has been rescued, according to local media reports.

The man was pulled free at 23:00 local time (22:00 GMT) - nearly twelve hours after a section of the Torre dei Conti, on the edge of the famous Roman Forum and close to the Colosseum, gave way and trapped him beneath. He has been taken to hospital.

The Romanian foreign ministry said the trapped man was from Romania, as was another worker who was among three others pulled from the rubble. One is said to be in a critical condition.

The tower has been closed to the public for many years, and was undergoing conservation work when a section collapsed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3kz7jxe0po