Part of the medieval Torre dei Conti edifice in Rome collapsed on Thursday during renovation work. Firefighters rescued four workers, with rescue operations continuing.
The medieval Torre dei Conti tower PHOTO: Wikipedia
Part of the medieval Torre dei Conti tower collapsed during renovation work near the Imperial Forums on Monday, with firefighters rescuing four workers while one was trapped under the rubble, according to Euronews.
The tower, built in 1238 by Pope Innocent III and located near the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in the historic center of Rome, was undergoing restoration, work funded by Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, when the partial collapse occurred around 11:30 a.m.
The Rome fire brigade sent three operational teams, two ladder trucks and specialized units to the scene. Three workers trapped at the top of the tower were evacuated through a door using the ladder truck, while a fourth worker was extracted from the structure.
“A few minutes ago, part of the “Torre dei Conti”, a medieval historical monument in the Imperial Forums in the historic center of Rome, collapsed. At the time of the collapse, renovation work was being carried out, according to the statements of the firemen, four people were rescued. They were construction workers. One of them was trapped in the rubble, while three others were trapped above. They were rescued by the firemen with the help of a ladder truck. The video images have were surprised by our resident Vasile Dogaru, who works nearby on the construction of the Metro line C. At this moment Via Dei Fori Imperiale, the street that connects the Colosseum in Rome and Piazza Venezia, is closed”, according to Ovidiu Burdușa, a Romanian who manages a hotel in the Italian capital.
Initial reports indicated that one person was trapped under the rubble as rescue operations continued.
The mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, arrived at the scene, while the local police of the I Centro Group closed pedestrian and car traffic along Via dei Fori Imperiali to facilitate the emergency response. The Capitoline Superintendence was also present on the scene.
The tower had been abandoned for years before the current renovation project began. Authorities did not provide details on the extent of structural damage or the cause of the collapse.
The incident took place in one of the most visited areas of Rome, adjacent to the archaeological site of the Imperial Forums, in the heart of the historic district of the Italian capital.
A second collapse at 12:50 p.m. forced firefighters to withdraw ladder trucks and evacuate for safety.
The most seriously injured worker, aged 64, was taken to San Giovanni Hospital in critical condition with head trauma. Two others refused hospitalization for minor scratches.
The governor of the Lazio region, Francesco Rocca, said the person still under the rubble was receiving medical attention and that “no one is believed to be in mortal danger.”
The Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, was present on the spot together with Mayor Gualtieri. The public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into assault by negligence, led by deputy prosecutors Mario Dovinola and Antonino Di Maio.
The carabinieri and the judicial police specialized in work accidents are investigating the crash. The prosecutors requested an expert opinion on the stage of construction works and the process of awarding contracts.
