Worker dies after medieval tower collapse in Rome
A tragic incident occurred in central Rome involving the 13th-century tower Torre dei Conti, which partially collapsed while undergoing renovations. A Romanian worker, identified as Octay Stroici, was trapped beneath the rubble following the first collapse and later died after being rescued and hospitalized.
The tower is located near the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and had been closed since 2006 as part of a restoration project.
According to officials, the initial collapse occurred before midday on Monday. Rescuers embarked on a complex operation to free Stroici, who remained conscious for hours while trapped. Unfortunately, despite being rescued, his condition deteriorated, and he died early the next morning.
The emergency rescue operation was further complicated by a second partial collapse during the extraction, which caused additional debris to fall and forced rescuers to proceed with extreme caution.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her deep sorrow and extended condolences to the family of Stroici and his colleagues, acknowledging the tragic nature of the event.
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the collapse, including whether any negligence or structural failure contributed. Authorities noted that the tower had undergone safety checks before the restoration phase, but the collapse nevertheless happened.
