Rescue teams in Rome are working tirelessly to free a man trapped on an upper floor of a medieval tower that partially collapsed during renovations. The Torre dei Conti, a 13th-century fortified residence, suffered its first collapse on Monday morning after falling debris hit one worker, leaving him critically injured.
The dramatic event unfolded as workers were scaling the 29-meter tower for repairs. Just hours later, another section of the tower gave way, trapping a man on an upper floor and injuring another worker who had been rescued by firefighters earlier in the day.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with loud bangs and clouds of dust filling the air. "I saw a worker fall," one witness reported. Others, including tourists and passersby, were forced to flee the area due to the risk of further collapse.
Firefighters responded quickly, deploying a drone to inspect the site and assess the situation before attempting to rescue the trapped man. The Rome prefect has assured that every effort is being made to save him, despite the high risk of further collapse.
"It's going to be a very long and complex operation," he said. "The risk of collapse is extremely high. But we will try in every way to save this human life."
Meanwhile, witnesses described their own harrowing experiences as they watched the unfolding drama unfold before their eyes. Some were forced to flee for their lives, while others simply stood frozen in shock.
For Elena, a worker at a nearby pub, the experience was surreal. "It felt like an earthquake," she said. "I saw people trying to get out of the scaffolding – I didn't realize they were inside working on it."
The Torre dei Conti is one of Rome's most historic landmarks, and its restoration works are being financed by EU post-pandemic recovery funds. However, the dramatic collapse has raised concerns about the building's stability.
As rescue teams continue to work through the night to free the trapped man, officials have confirmed that the area surrounding the tower will remain cordoned off until further notice.
The dramatic event unfolded as workers were scaling the 29-meter tower for repairs. Just hours later, another section of the tower gave way, trapping a man on an upper floor and injuring another worker who had been rescued by firefighters earlier in the day.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with loud bangs and clouds of dust filling the air. "I saw a worker fall," one witness reported. Others, including tourists and passersby, were forced to flee the area due to the risk of further collapse.
Firefighters responded quickly, deploying a drone to inspect the site and assess the situation before attempting to rescue the trapped man. The Rome prefect has assured that every effort is being made to save him, despite the high risk of further collapse.
"It's going to be a very long and complex operation," he said. "The risk of collapse is extremely high. But we will try in every way to save this human life."
Meanwhile, witnesses described their own harrowing experiences as they watched the unfolding drama unfold before their eyes. Some were forced to flee for their lives, while others simply stood frozen in shock.
For Elena, a worker at a nearby pub, the experience was surreal. "It felt like an earthquake," she said. "I saw people trying to get out of the scaffolding – I didn't realize they were inside working on it."
The Torre dei Conti is one of Rome's most historic landmarks, and its restoration works are being financed by EU post-pandemic recovery funds. However, the dramatic collapse has raised concerns about the building's stability.
As rescue teams continue to work through the night to free the trapped man, officials have confirmed that the area surrounding the tower will remain cordoned off until further notice.
. Who needs modern safety protocols anyway? I mean, these workers knew the risks when they signed up for the job, right? It's all about grit and determination... or so I'm told 
.
. Can you imagine the Instagram shots of that ancient tower with rubble scattered everywhere? The hashtag #RomeTowerTragedy will trend for weeks! 
like who thought it was a good idea to let people climb on a 13th century tower with scaffolding 
anyway i guess its all part of progress right? at least they're trying to save the guy, but i mean, cant they just use a helicopter or something instead of a drone 
and btw, can we talk about how much i love watching firefighters do their thing? so cool 
. and sorry not sorry that someone got hurt (again)
this is like something out of a movie!!! I mean, can you even imagine being stuck in a 13th-century tower with no way out?! 
- so grateful they're doing everything they can to save that man's life! 
And I feel for those workers who got injured, hope they make a speedy recovery too 
. This just goes to show you never know what can happen when you're working on old buildings... gotta be super careful with historical landmarks like the Torre dei Conti 
. Fingers crossed that rescue operation goes smoothly tonight 
I mean, who knew renovations could be so deadly? 
.
. The whole area should just stay cordoned off until it's safe again 
Like, she didn't even realize the scaffolding was occupied by workers. 
anyway, hope the guy gets out safely but gotta wonder how this whole thing happened in the first place 
this is so messed up 
a medieval tower collapsing in the middle of Rome... what if that guy on the upper floor has been stuck there for hours, maybe even days 
shouldn't EU post-pandemic recovery funds be spent on updating infrastructure instead of restoring ancient buildings that are clearly not safe? 
And don't even get me started on them scaffolding workers... they shoulda seen it comin'! 
This whole thing's got me shakin' my head in amazement. What were they thinkin'? 
.
i'm keeping my fingers crossed for the best outcome, no more casualties please 
. anyway, my source says the rescue team is being super cautious and they're not giving up hope yet