Esther Imonmion
A 66-year-old construction worker has died following the Medieval Tower Collapse in central Rome, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The victim, identified as Octav Stroici, a Romanian national, was pulled from the rubble of the Torre dei Conti at around 23:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday — nearly twelve hours after part of the 13th-century tower collapsed during conservation work.
Stroici, who was trapped beneath debris near the Roman Forum and Colosseum, suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital.
Three other workers, including another Romanian, were rescued earlier. One firefighter sustained an eye injury but has since been discharged.
The Medieval Tower Collapse occurred at about 11:20 a.m. on Monday, when a section of the 29-metre (90-foot) Torre dei Conti suddenly gave way. Rescue operations were briefly halted when another portion of the structure crumbled roughly 90 minutes later, showering the area with dust and debris.
Firefighters and rescue teams used drones and heavy equipment to reach Stroici, who had remained conscious and communicative during much of the ordeal. His wife was present throughout the rescue attempt.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed sympathy on X (formerly Twitter) before Stroici’s death, writing that her “deepest thoughts” were with the trapped worker and his family.
Rome’s Mayor and Italy’s Culture Minister later visited the scene, while the Rome Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the cause of the Medieval Tower Collapse.
The Torre dei Conti, built in the 13th century under Pope Innocent III, is one of Rome’s most historic structures, located just off Via dei Fori Imperiali. The building had been vacant for years before restoration work began.
Police have since cordoned off surrounding streets as experts assess the tower’s stability and ongoing risks.