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Agence France-Presse

A worker who was pulled from the rubble of a medieval tower that partly collapsed in Rome died on Tuesday, Italian media reported citing hospital sources.
The man, a Romanian national, had remained conscious during the long rescue operation before being hospitalised in critical condition, according to authorities.
“Resuscitation attempts were made for about an hour to save Octay Stroici,” Italian news agency ANSA said, citing the Umberto I hospital.
“Despite this, spontaneous cardiac activity could not be restored” and his “death was pronounced at 12.20am”.

He had been helping to renovate the Torre dei Conti, which partially collapsed shortly before midday on Monday, sending rubble into the street and a thick white cloud of dust into the air.
Three other workers were earlier evacuated from the site, one of them in critical condition, a spokesman for the fire service said.
The tower is in a busy area, just off the Imperial Forum and close to the Colosseum, Italy’s top tourist site.
A second partial collapse of the tower about 1½ hours later sent up further billowing clouds of dust.
After the first collapse, firefighters managed to “put up some protection” around the trapped man, so when the second collapse occurred he was shielded, Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini said.
One worker inside at the time of the first collapse said he escaped from a balcony.

“It was not safe. I just want to go home,” said the man, white dust covering his uniform, who gave his name as Ottaviano and his age as 67.
The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century during the pontificate of Pope Innocent III.
The tower, which is now 29 metres high, was once about 50 to 60 metres high. However, the upper floors were damaged by a series of earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries and later demolished. The building has been uninhabitable and abandoned for some time.
Monday’s collapses affected a buttress and part of the tower’s base, then part of the stairwell and the roof, Rome’s Directorate of Cultural Heritage said in a statement.
The phase of work launched in June 2025, which included asbestos removal, was practically complete.
The directorate said an analysis undertaken on the start of the renovations had shown “necessary safety conditions” for the work to go ahead.
The Italian government summoned Russia’s ambassador after the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman made a link between the accident and Russia’s support for Ukraine.
“As long as the Italian government keeps uselessly wasting taxpayers’ money, all of Italy will collapse, from the economy to its towers,” said the spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, on Telegram.
Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, criticised Zakharova’s remarks as “shameful, unacceptable”.
Additional reporting by dpa


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Worker dies after medieval tower partly collapses in Rome

Emergency services at the scene after part of the Torre dei Conti tower collapsed near the Colosseum, in Rome. Photo: Reuters

Dust rises during the second collapse. Photo: AFP

Part of the tower collapsing. Photo: AFP

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Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla with Pope Leo in Vatican City on Thursday. The pope has approved giving the king a new title of “Royal Confrater”. Photo: EPA/Vatican Media handout

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The Torre dei Conti partially collapsed during renovation work in the heart of Italy’s capital


The Torre dei Conti partially collapsed during renovation work in the heart of Italy’s capital.


History

Catholic Church

Worker dies after medieval tower partly collapses in Rome

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Torre dei Conti partially collapsed during renovation work in the heart of Italy’s capital

The Torre dei Conti partially collapsed during renovation work in the heart of Italy’s capital