On Monday, a medieval tower located in the heart of Italy's capital, close to the renowned Roman Forum ruins, experienced a significant partial collapse while undergoing renovations. This unfortunate incident resulted in the critical injury of one worker and left another trapped inside the structure, as reported by local authorities.
Hundreds of tourists gathered nearby to witness the dramatic rescue efforts as firefighters employed a mobile ladder to deliver a stretcher to the upper level of the Torre dei Conti. Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari confirmed that one worker remained trapped for hours following the initial collapse. Meanwhile, the rescued worker was reported to be in critical condition, with an additional three workers successfully rescued unharmed.
The collapse occurred shortly before noon and fortunately did not involve any bystanders. Queen Paglinawan, who was working at a nearby gelato parlor, described hearing two loud noises in quick succession. "I was working and then I heard something like falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way," said the 27-year-old.
German student Viktoria Braeu, who happened to be passing by the scene, recounted her experience just as the secondary collapse occurred during the rescue operation. "We were just at the Colosseum…and we were just walking to get some food. And then we were like, 'It's probably not long until it's going to go down,' and then it just started erupting," the 18-year-old stated.
As the situation unfolded, four firefighters approached the first-floor window using two mobile ladders. However, they were quickly forced to retreat as dust and debris emerged from the tower. In an effort to assess the condition of the trapped worker, authorities deployed a drone to inspect the area in front of the window.
The Torre dei Conti holds significant historical importance, having been constructed in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. The tower has endured damage from a 1349 earthquake and has faced subsequent collapses in the 17th century, adding to its storied past.
Both Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli were present at the scene of the incident but chose not to speak with reporters. The ongoing rescue efforts and the historical implications of the collapse are likely to prompt further investigations into the safety measures during renovations at such significant historical sites.
