Rome’s city centre was thrown into chaos on Monday, November 3, after part of the Torre dei Conti, a historic 13th-century tower near the Imperial Forum, collapsed during renovation works, trapping one worker under rubble and injuring another.
The dramatic incident happened shortly after 11:30 a.m. (09:30 GMT) when a section of the ancient façade gave way, sending heavy debris crashing onto the street below.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden rumble followed by a huge cloud of white dust covering the surrounding area.
Located just a few meters from the Colosseum, the Torre dei Conti has long stood as one of Rome’s best-preserved medieval landmarks.
The collapse has sparked fresh concerns over the safety of the city’s historic structures undergoing restoration.
“It was not safe. I just want to go home,” said Ottaviano, a 67-year-old worker who escaped through a balcony, his uniform covered in dust.
Emergency services arrived within minutes as firefighters cordoned off the area, fearing more sections might fall.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli were both present at the scene to oversee rescue efforts.
According to the fire department, three workers were inside the building when the collapse occurred.
Two were safely evacuated, while one remains hospitalized in critical condition.
However, one worker is still trapped beneath the rubble, confirmed an official from the mayor’s office.
An AFP reporter at the scene reported a second partial collapse nearly two hours later, sending up fresh plumes of dust as firefighters struggled to stabilize the weakened structure.
A spokesperson for the fire service said, “Visibility is very poor, and we are using drones to assess the interior damage.”
The Torre dei Conti collapse in Rome has drawn widespread attention due to the tower’s cultural significance.
Built in 1238, the structure once served as a fortified residence for the noble Conti family.
It is considered one of the finest examples of medieval Roman architecture.
Restoration work had been ongoing under a European Union heritage program, aimed at reinforcing and preserving the centuries-old landmark.
“The Torre dei Conti is part of our national memory,” an official from Italy’s Culture Ministry noted. “We will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the collapse.”
