Part of the Torre dei Conti, in the center of Rome, has collapsed; “One worker is alive under the rubble
The Torre del Conti (Torre dei Conti in Italian) is a medieval tower located in the city of Rome.
The prefect: “There are signs.” The monument was under restoration, but during rescue operations, a new collapse occurred, affecting a team of firefighters. All escaped injury.
Part of the Torre dei Conti, currently under renovation, collapsed in Largo Corrado Ricci, in the Imperial Fora, in the heart of Rome.
After the first incident, another avalanche of debris fell from the roof, creating another huge cloud of dust.
A 64-year-old worker was rescued alive from the rubble and taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Another worker remains trapped under the rubble: according to medical sources, he is conscious, but after the second collapse, there are concerns for his health. The situation appears to have worsened, and firefighters have temporarily suspended rescue operations.
Currently, one person is trapped.” “But we have indications that she is still alive,” declared the Prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini. “Every possible effort is being made to rescue her, which is the priority, but it is a complex operation.” Even after the second collapse, “the person is showing vital signs. Probably because during the first access,” the firefighters “were unable to free her, but they did manage to protect her to some extent,” he explained. “What we can say for sure is that it will be a very long and complex operation, because the risk of further collapse is extremely high. We will do everything possible,” he reiterated, “because the absolute priority is to save this human life.”
The second collapse affected the firefighters who were working to rescue the worker who was still trapped in the rubble. One firefighter was taken by emergency services to the Ophthalmological Hospital. He reportedly suffered eye irritation.
Two other people with minor injuries declined transport to the hospital. The workers were on the scaffolding and were trapped after the collapse. rescued by firefighters using a ladder truck.
The fire department responded with three operational teams, two ladder trucks, and special units. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic was closed in the affected area to facilitate the firefighters’ work.
Rescue operations are ongoing. The Carabinieri from the Piazza Venezia Command and the Centro company have cordoned off the area and will investigate the causes of the collapse along with the Carabinieri Labor Inspectorate and technicians from the Health Department. The Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, visited the site of the collapse.
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation. The case, coordinated by Deputy Prosecutor Antonino Di Mai and Prosecutor Mario Dovinola, is pending for negligent injury. Agents from the Judicial Police Unit specializing in workplace accidents are present at the site of the collapse. Investigators will gather technical reports to reconstruct the dynamics of the event and determine the causes of the collapse.
Among the hypotheses is that of a Internal structural collapse. The Carabinieri and technicians from the Local Health Authority are investigating the incident. It has been confirmed that eleven workers were in the tower, located in the center of Rome, this morning.
