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A construction worker trapped after a partial collapse of a medieval tower in central Rome has been successfully rescued, according to reports from local media.
The individual was freed at 23:00 local time (22:00 GMT), nearly twelve hours after a section of the Torre dei Conti, situated near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, crumbled, leaving him trapped. He has since been transported to a hospital for medical attention.
The Romanian foreign ministry has confirmed that the rescued worker is of Romanian nationality, as was another worker who was among three others extracted from the debris. One of the workers is reportedly in critical condition.
The tower, which has been closed to the public for several years, was undergoing restoration work at the time of the incident.
Rome’s Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, expressed his concern, stating, “We hope that he will pull through.”
Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini told reporters that the worker was recovered after “a long rescue mission.”
Earlier, Giannini had described the situation as “very complex,” noting that firefighters had established protective measures around the trapped individual before a subsequent collapse, “shielding him” from further harm.
He further emphasized the extensive nature of the rescue operation, citing the need to “mitigate…the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue.”
The Rome Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Rescue efforts for the worker, reportedly in his 60s, were temporarily halted when another section of the 29-meter (90ft) tower deteriorated, resulting in falling debris and a large cloud of dust.
According to local reports, one firefighter was hospitalized due to an eye injury, but the rest of the team remained unharmed and resumed the search operation.
A police chief has stated that there is no immediate threat of further disintegration of the tower.
Prior to the successful rescue, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her sentiments on X, stating, “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, identified as 67-year-old Ottaviano, who was present during the collapse but escaped unharmed from a balcony, told AFP news agency: “It was not safe. I just want to go home.”
The Mayor of Rome and the country’s Minister of Culture both visited the site. A crane and a drone were also deployed to assist in the rescue operation.
The 13th-century tower, a part of the Roman Forum, a popular tourist destination in the heart of the city, is separated from the main visitor area by a road. As a precaution, police have cordoned off the surrounding streets.
The medieval tower was originally constructed by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his brother.
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