Tragedy Strikes Rome as Medieval Tower Collapse Claims Life of Romanian Worker
A devastating scene unfolded in Rome yesterday as a medieval tower partially collapsed, trapping a Romanian worker under rubble. The Torre dei Conti, a 95ft structure near the Colosseum, suffered two successive collapses, with the second incident occurring while firefighters were working to rescue the trapped man.
The worker, identified as Octay Stroici, was pulled free from the rubble after hours of being pinned down by the collapse. However, despite the long and arduous rescue operation, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at hospital. Authorities have confirmed that Stroici died due to severe head injuries sustained during the accident.
The first collapse occurred at around 10:30am local time, with videos posted on social media showing clouds of dust billowing out of the windows and the sound of masonry crashing down. The second collapse happened approximately an hour later while firefighters were working on the structure using aerial ladders. Miraculously, none of the firefighters were injured during the rescue operation.
Stroici's death has sent shockwaves through the community, with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressing her deepest condolences to his family and colleagues. The tragedy has also raised concerns about the structural integrity of historic buildings in Rome, which have been vulnerable to collapses due to age-related damage.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with some reporting hearing a loud bang and seeing clouds of dust. One witness, who escaped from the tower by walking down scaffolding, expressed relief at being able to leave the site before it collapsed.
The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century and has undergone restoration works financed by EU funds aimed at making the building more secure. However, yesterday's incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with working on historic structures.
As Rome's streets are usually bustling with tourists and traffic, the area where the collapse occurred was cordoned off to allow emergency responders to work. The Italian government has vowed to investigate the cause of the collapse and ensure that measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
				
			A devastating scene unfolded in Rome yesterday as a medieval tower partially collapsed, trapping a Romanian worker under rubble. The Torre dei Conti, a 95ft structure near the Colosseum, suffered two successive collapses, with the second incident occurring while firefighters were working to rescue the trapped man.
The worker, identified as Octay Stroici, was pulled free from the rubble after hours of being pinned down by the collapse. However, despite the long and arduous rescue operation, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at hospital. Authorities have confirmed that Stroici died due to severe head injuries sustained during the accident.
The first collapse occurred at around 10:30am local time, with videos posted on social media showing clouds of dust billowing out of the windows and the sound of masonry crashing down. The second collapse happened approximately an hour later while firefighters were working on the structure using aerial ladders. Miraculously, none of the firefighters were injured during the rescue operation.
Stroici's death has sent shockwaves through the community, with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressing her deepest condolences to his family and colleagues. The tragedy has also raised concerns about the structural integrity of historic buildings in Rome, which have been vulnerable to collapses due to age-related damage.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with some reporting hearing a loud bang and seeing clouds of dust. One witness, who escaped from the tower by walking down scaffolding, expressed relief at being able to leave the site before it collapsed.
The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century and has undergone restoration works financed by EU funds aimed at making the building more secure. However, yesterday's incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with working on historic structures.
As Rome's streets are usually bustling with tourists and traffic, the area where the collapse occurred was cordoned off to allow emergency responders to work. The Italian government has vowed to investigate the cause of the collapse and ensure that measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.