In the heart of the Italian capital, a worker has died after being trapped in a medieval tower that partially collapsed during renovation work on the fortified tower block. Despite lengthy rescue operations, the man – a Romanian national – breathed his last in the ambulance. Romania’s foreign ministry said he was pronounced dead at 12:20 p.m. and was among workers pulled from the wreckage. One other worker is said to be in critical condition.
“Resuscitation attempts were carried out for about an hour to save Octay Stroici,” the Italian news agency ANSA said, citing the Umberto I hospital.
He was helping with the renovation of the Torre dei Conti – which partially collapsed shortly before midday on Monday, sending rubble into the street and sending a thick cloud of white dust into the air.
The tower, located in a busy area near the Imperial Forum and just a short walk from the Colosseum – Italy’s most visited monument – partially collapsed twice on Monday.
About an hour and a half after the first incident, a second partial collapse sent more clouds of dust into the air.
According to Rome prefect Lambert Giannini, after the initial collapse, firefighters managed to “consolidate some protection” around the trapped worker, which eventually protected him in the second collapse.
One worker who was inside during the first collapse told AFP he managed to escape through a balcony. “It wasn’t safe. I just want to go home,” said the man, 67-year-old Ottaviano, his uniform covered in white dust.
The Torre dei Conti, which dates back to the early 13th century, was undergoing renovations funded by the European Union.
According to Rome’s Directorate of Cultural Heritage, the collapse damaged part of the buttress, the base of the tower, part of the staircase and the roof. The restoration phase, which began in June 2025 and included asbestos removal, is almost complete.
An earlier safety analysis carried out before the renovation confirmed the “necessary safety conditions” for the project to continue, the directorate said.
As a result, tensions rose after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova linked the accident to Italy’s stance on Ukraine, saying on Telegram:
“As long as the Italian government wastes taxpayers’ money, the whole of Italy will collapse, from the economy to its towers.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Zakharova’s comments, calling them “shameful, unacceptable”.
