Rome, Italy – Part of the historic medieval Conti Tower in the heart of Rome collapsed on Monday morning during EU-funded restoration work, injuring one worker and trapping another in the rubble.
The tower, which dates back to the 13th century and was originally a residence of Pope Innocent III’s family, is located near the Roman Forum. This forum is considered one of the most important historical landmarks in the Italian capital.
According to emergency services, the first collapse occurred late Monday morning during restoration work. A second collapse happened shortly afterward while rescue teams were securing the site and attempting to extract those trapped.
Rome’s governor, Lamberto Giannini, said that “one person is still trapped inside the rubble.” He noted that the second collapse “has made the operation very long and complicated,” adding, “We hope for a good outcome, but it’s not easy.”
The tower is being restored as part of the “Caput Mundi – Next Generation EU” project. This project is funded by the European Union’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery program, with the aim of preserving historic sites in the Italian capital.
Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli rushed to the scene to oversee the rescue operations. This comes just days after the Italian government passed new legislation to strengthen workplace safety standards, following a series of recent fatal accidents in the country.
Luke, a 33-year-old British tourist who was in the area at the time of the collapse, told Politico:
“We were leaving the Colosseum when we heard many sirens. We saw dust rising and firefighters pulling three people out of a tower window. They were all covered in dust, and one of them was bleeding.”
He added: “Shortly after, we were walking in the Roman Forum when we saw fresh dust from the second collapse. It’s mad that a building collapsed in the heart of Rome, especially since it was undergoing restoration. There seems to have been a mistake in the planning or execution.”
Fire and civil defense teams are still working at the site searching for the missing worker. There are concerns about further collapses in the remaining parts of the tower.
