One dead and four rescued after medieval tower collapses by Roman Forum

 ROME – A Romanian worker died after being trapped under rubble for several hours when medieval tower Torre dei Conti, located by the Roman Forum, collapsed on Monday morning, local media reported.

 Work had been underway when the building collapsed at 11:25 on Monday morning, leaving five workers trapped under the rubble. Three who were working on the scaffolding rescued by the fire brigade. One other worker, 64, was rescued from under the rubble and taken to hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition with a head injury.

 Although initial reports said everyone in the building had been rescued, subsequently emergency workers discovered one worker was still trapped. As firefighters were trying to rescue those trapped, a second collapse occured at 12:50, preventing emergency services from being able to enter the tower.

 Firefighters were able to establish contact with the man, identified as Romanian Octay Stroici, 66, and extracted him from the rubble after ten hours. The Romanian was taken to hospital in a "serious condition" and shortly after died.

 Videos circulating on social media show a cloud of dust rising through the air as part of the medieval building collapsed. The building, located next to the Roman Forum on Largo Corrado Ricci, had been undergoing renovation works.

 The mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, visited the scene. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences. 

 An investigation has been opened.

 khg