Rome, Italy – A Romanian worker has died following a partial collapse of a 13th-century tower near the Roman forum in Rome, Italy, on Monday.The man, identified as stroici, was pulled from the rubble after a lengthy and complex rescue operation but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The collapse occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time. Stroici had been conscious and communicating with emergency workers throughout the initial rescue efforts,with his wife present at the scene. A second collapse occurred around 90 minutes later, showering the area with bricks and dust, despite firefighters having “put up some protection” to shield him, according to Rome prefect Lamberto Giannini.
“They obviously shielded him,” Giannini said, adding the rescue was prolonged due to “the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue.”
The Romanian foreign ministry confirmed Stroici was a Romanian national, as was another worker among three others rescued from the rubble. The ministry expressed condolences to his family, stating, “together with them, we held on to hope until the very last moment.”
Stroici was performing conservation work on the tower, which had been empty and abandoned for years, located just off the busy Via dei Fori Imperiali and near the Forum.
One firefighter was treated for an eye problem,but no other injuries were reported among the rescue teams.
The Rome Prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into the incident. Authorities stated there was no immediate danger of the tower’s complete disintegration.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had previously expressed hope for a positive outcome, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the person currently fighting for his life beneath the rubble, and to his family, for whom I sincerely hope that this tragedy finds a positive outcome.”
Another worker, 67-year-old Ottaviano, escaped uninjured from a balcony and told AFP, ”It was not safe. I just want to go home.”
The tower was originally built by Pope Innocent III in the 13th century as a residence for his brother. The area surrounding the collapse has been cordoned off by police.
