Worker dies in Rome after rescue from partially collapsed medieval tower

A Romanian worker has died after being trapped for hours when part of a medieval tower collapsed near the Colosseum in central Rome, authorities said on Tuesday.

Part of the Torre dei Conti collapsed on Monday morning during renovation work near the Imperial Forums. It had been abandoned for years before the current works began.

Octav Stroici, 66, was pulled free from the rubble by firefighters on Monday night — about 12 hours later — and immediately rushed to hospital.

Yet Stroici's heart stopped while he was in the ambulance and he was declared dead after arriving at the Umberto I Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

"Despite the sustained efforts of the medical teams in Rome, Octav Stroici, who had been trapped under the rubble of a historic building undergoing restoration works, has sadly passed away," Romania's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her condolences.

"I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octav Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome," she said in a statement.

"We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering."

Rescuers had faced a tough task as they tried to use a first-floor window to reach Stroici. But they were forced to retreat in a cloud of debris after a second collapse took place 90 minutes later. Another approach on ladders was aborted, with a drone set up instead.

As dusk approached, firefighters hoisted on a crane and used massive tubes to suck rubble out of the second-floor window. They continued the work late into the night.

"The operation lasted a long time because every time a part of the body was freed there was additional rubble that covered it," said Lamberto Giannini, prefect of Rome.

Three other workers were rescued unharmed after the partial collapse of the tower on Monday, firefighters said. Another worker, aged 64, was hospitalised in critical condition, with public broadcaster RAI reporting that he was conscious and had suffered a broken nose.

No firefighters were hurt during the rescue operation.

Multi-million restoration project

The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. The tower was damaged in a 1349 earthquake and suffered subsequent collapses in the 17th century.

The tower, which has been closed since 2007, is undergoing a €7-million restoration that includes conservation work, the installation of electrical, lighting, and water systems, and a new museum installation.

Before the latest phase in June, structural surveys and load tests were carried out "to verify the stability of the structure, which confirmed the safety conditions necessary" to proceed with work, including asbestos removal, officials said.

The current work — carried out at a cost of €400,000 — was nearly complete before Monday's partial collapse.

The first collapse struck the central buttress of the structure's southern side and caused an underlying sloped base to fall. The second damaged part of the stairwell and roof.

Italian prosecutors arrived at the scene as the rescue operation was under way, and were investigating possible charges for negligent disaster and negligent injuries, local media reported.

Prosecutors have requested an expert assessment of the construction work status and contract awarding process.

It is common in Italy for investigations to begin while an event is ongoing and before possible suspects are identified.