Emergency Rescue Operation Underway After Collapse of Medieval Tower in Rome

Tue Nov 04 2025 03:22:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A medieval tower in Rome's historic district collapsed, trapping one person and injuring another. Firefighters are conducting a complex rescue operation amid ongoing risks.

Part of the Torre dei Conti, a medieval tower located near the Roman Forum, collapsed today, trapping one man and critically injuring another. Firefighters are working to rescue the trapped individual while ensuring their own safety, as another section of the tower began to crumble. Local authorities highlight the tower has been closed for conservation, with police managing the surrounding area to maintain safety.

Part of a medieval tower in the heart of Rome's tourist district has collapsed, trapping one man and leaving another critically injured.

A section of the Torre dei Conti, on the edge of the famous Roman Forum and close to the Colosseum, gave way just after 11:30 local time (10:30 GMT).

It's a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside, Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini said. The man is conscious and communicating with rescue workers.

The tower has been closed to the public for many years and was undergoing conservation work when a section collapsed.

While rescue efforts were still ongoing, a second section of the 29m (90ft) high tower began crumbling again, with bricks raining down and creating a huge cloud of dust.

The firefighters were unharmed, pausing their rescue work temporarily before continuing their search for the trapped man. After the initial collapse, they put up some protection around him, which helped shield him during the subsequent crumbling.

It will be a very long operation because we have to try to save the person, but we also have to try to mitigate... the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue, Giannini added. A police chief assured that there is no imminent danger of complete tower disintegration.

One worker was taken to hospital in critical condition, local and foreign news agencies reported. Another worker, 67-year-old Ottaviano, escaped uninjured from a balcony during the collapse and expressed his desire to return home amidst safety concerns.

Rome's mayor and the country's culture minister have visited the scene, with a crane and drone aiding in the ongoing rescue operations. The medieval tower, built by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his brother, is a part of the Roman Forum, a major tourist attraction in the city, although it is separated from the main visitors' area by a road. Police have taped off the surrounding streets as a precaution.