A medieval tower in the heart of Rome, Torre dei Conti, partially collapsed on Monday, November 3, while undergoing renovation, leaving one worker trapped under the rubble, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred just after 11:30 a.m. (09:30 GMT), when part of the tower’s façade gave way, sending debris crashing onto the street below and filling the area with a thick white cloud of dust. The historic structure is located near the Imperial Forum, only a short distance from the Colosseum, one of Italy’s most visited landmarks.
According to officials, three workers who were inside the tower at the time were safely evacuated, with one taken to hospital in critical condition, a spokesperson for the fire department told AFP. However, another worker remained trapped beneath the collapsed section, an official from the mayor’s office confirmed.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli were present at the scene as firefighters cordoned off the area and pushed back crowds gathered nearby.
An AFP reporter at the site witnessed a second partial collapse roughly two hours later, again sending up large plumes of dust as additional rubble fell from the ancient structure.
With visibility reduced by dust, firefighters deployed cranes to reach the tower’s upper windows, while a drone was flown inside to assess the internal damage.
One worker, identified as Ottaviano, aged 67, who was inside the building when the first collapse occurred, told AFP that he managed to escape from a balcony. “It was not safe. I just want to go home,” he said, his uniform coated in white dust.
The Torre dei Conti, which dates back to the early 13th century, has long been one of Rome’s most significant medieval landmarks. Restoration works were being carried out using European Union funds when the collapse took place.
