Partial Collapse at Rome's 13th‑Century Torre dei Conti Traps Worker as Rescue Teams Battle Unstable Rubble

Historic Torre dei Conti Partly Collapses During Renovation; One Worker Trapped

A section of the medieval Torre dei Conti in central Rome partially collapsed just after 11:30 a.m. local time (10:30 GMT) on Monday while the tower was undergoing renovation, sending rubble into the street and a thick cloud of white dust into the air.

Rescuers say one worker — a Romanian national — was trapped but conscious beneath the rubble. Three other workers were evacuated from the site; a fire service spokesman reported one of the evacuated workers is in critical condition.

"It's a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside," Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini told reporters at the scene.

About 90 minutes after the initial collapse, a second partial fall sent up fresh billows of dust. Authorities said that after the first collapse firefighters had already erected protective measures around the trapped man, which likely helped shield him during the later fall.

With dust still in the air, rescue teams deployed cranes to reach tower windows and sent a drone through an opening to inspect the interior. Specialised search-and-rescue firefighter units arrived at the scene as crews worked cautiously to reduce the risk to both the victim and rescuers.

One worker who escaped described the scene: "It was not safe. I just want to go home," the man, who gave his name as Ottaviano and his age as 67, told AFP, his uniform covered in white dust.

The Torre dei Conti, dating from the early 13th century, stands near the Imperial Forum and the Colosseum. The restoration was funded by the European Union, and the latest phase of work — begun in June 2025 and including asbestos removal — was described as practically complete. Rome's Directorate of Cultural Heritage said the collapses initially affected a buttress and part of the tower's base, and later involved part of the stairwell and roof. The directorate also said an analysis carried out at the start of renovations had indicated the "necessary safety conditions" for the work to proceed.

Prefect Giannini warned that the rescue would be long and hazardous: "It will be a very long operation because we have to try to save the person, but we also have to try to mitigate... the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue," he said.

Diplomatic Fallout

The collapse prompted a diplomatic dispute after Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, linked the accident to broader criticisms of Italy's governance, saying: "As long as the Italian government keeps uselessly wasting taxpayers' money, all of Italy will collapse, from the economy to its towers." The Italian government summoned Russia's ambassador in response, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Zakharova's comments as "shameful, unacceptable."

Authorities continue to work at the scene with caution to stabilise the structure and attempt to free the trapped worker while protecting rescue personnel and the public.