Worker dies after being buried underneath rubble as medieval tower collapses close to Colosseum
A 66-year-old man has died after being trapped under the rubble of a collapsed medieval tower in Rome for 11 hours as rescue workers tried to free him and his colleagues
A 66-year-old man has died after becoming trapped beneath the wreckage of a crumbled medieval tower, just metres from Italy’s Colosseum. Octay Stroici, a Romanian worker involved in restoration works at Rome’s Torre dei Conti tower, remained pinned beneath the debris for 11 gruelling hours whilst emergency crews battled to rescue him and his fellow workers.
The 13th-century structure in the Italian capital’s Imperial Forum came crashing down just after 11am local time (10am GMT) during renovation activities, having stood empty for the previous two decades.
The rescue operation mobilised over 140 firefighters, stretching across several hours as repeated collapses hampered their valiant efforts. Octay tragically went into cardiac arrest whilst being transported to hospital in an ambulance, moments after being pulled from the wreckage, reports the Express.
Reports from yesterday confirmed that a 64 year old colleague was also rushed to hospital following a head injury, though his condition is not thought to be critical.
Two additional individuals struck by the tumbling masonry also suffered wounds but received treatment at the scene.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has launched an inquiry into the devastating incident and has offered her heartfelt sympathies to Octay’s grieving family.
A statement issued from her office overnight declared: “On behalf of myself and the government, I express my deepest sorrow and condolences for the tragic death of Octay Stroici, the worker who fell victim to the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome.
“Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable grief. I would like to thank once again the rescue workers and all those who worked tirelessly and courageously to try to save his life.”
Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli both attended the scene whilst rescue operations were taking place.
Footage spreading across social media captures an enormous cloud of debris billowing into the sky as the tower crumbles and plummets to the ground. The structure dates back more than 700 years, originally constructed for Pope Innocent III and his family.
The collapse narrowly missed numerous pedestrians on the busy pathway leading to the Colosseum, which had been cordoned off due to the ongoing construction work.
