היסטארישער רוים טורעם פאלט צוזאם און פארוואונדעט ארבעטער בשעת די רענאוואציע.
Rome, Italy — A rescue operation in central Rome turned perilous on Monday after a second collapse struck the 13th-century Torre dei Conti, one of the city’s most iconic medieval structures. The ancient tower, located just steps from the Colosseum, gave way during EU-funded renovation works, leaving several workers injured and one still trapped beneath debris as of late evening.
Authorities confirmed that sections of the tower’s interior scaffolding and outer wall crumbled unexpectedly, interrupting an ongoing rescue. Firefighters had successfully pulled three workers to safety — all suffering minor injuries — before discovering a 64-year-old man in critical condition with severe head trauma. A fifth worker remains trapped, with signs of life detected through sensors and heat imaging as crews carefully dig through unstable rubble.
The Torre dei Conti, built in 1238 by the powerful Conti family, has long stood as a symbol of medieval Rome’s grandeur. Its latest restoration project, part of a European Union cultural preservation initiative, was intended to reinforce the tower’s structural integrity. Instead, it has become the scene of a high-stakes emergency.
Local officials said an investigation has been launched into the safety protocols of the construction site after reports surfaced that workers had complained for weeks about unusual cracking sounds and vibrations within the tower.
Emergency crews are proceeding with extreme caution amid fears that additional sections could still collapse. The surrounding area near Via Cavour and the Roman Forum has been cordoned off, while cultural heritage authorities assess the potential loss to one of the city’s oldest surviving fortifications.
As Rome continues to modernize its ancient landmarks, the collapse underscores the delicate balance between preservation and risk — a reminder that even in the Eternal City, time can still claim its due.
