Partial collapse of the medieval Conti tower in the heart of Rome triggers a chain rescue operation

In the very center of Rome, near the famous Colosseum and the Roman forums, a partial collapse occurred in the medieval Torre dei Conti tower - a landmark built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a family residence of the Conti family. The incident occurred during restoration work, when four workers were inside the tower. One of them remained under the rubble, two others had minor injuries, and another was taken to hospital with a severe head injury.

During the first rescue operation, firefighters pulled the survivors on the upper levels with the help of a ladder, but a second unforeseen collapse interrupted the operation and injured one of the rescuers. Clouds of dust covered the area, and the area was completely cordoned off. A drone was used to inspect the condition of the trapped worker before he was finally evacuated. It later became clear that the seriously injured man had died of his injuries.

The Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri and the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli visited the site of the tragedy and stated that the state will provide additional expert resources for the analysis of the causes and the safety of cultural sites.

According to initial expert data, the incident was caused by the sudden destruction of key internal load-bearing walls, which were already significantly weakened by centuries of erosion and developed plant roots. Security services stressed that collapses have become more frequent during the renovations of the Italian historical heritage due to climate change and the lack of funds for restoration.

The investigation is being carried out by the prosecutor's office of Rome under Art. "unintentional bodily injuries" and "violations of technical standards". Traffic and access around the Corrado Ricci square are completely restricted for citizens and tourists, and the threat of a complete collapse of the tower is still real.