Historic Roman landmark collapses leaving people trapped under the rubble

A historic landmark in Rome collapsed this morning, leaving people trapped under the rubble.

As reported by Reuters, workers who were renovating the Torre dei Conti tower, located near the colleseum, were caught under the falling structure.

One worker is in the hospital in a serious condition.

The Torre dei Conti tower. Credit: Vanni Archive / Getty

The Torre dei Conti, a towering medieval structure standing at 29 meters (95 feet) tall, is located on Via dei Fori Imperiali—the grand avenue connecting Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum.

The tower, which has not been in use since 2006, is currently undergoing a four-year renovation project that began in 2021 and was scheduled to finish next year.

National fire department spokesperson Luca Cari confirmed that first responders were dispatched to the scene and faced an urgent challenge: rescuing one of the workers trapped beneath the debris. “Emergency services were working to extract one person trapped under rubble,” Cari said, per the Independent.

Italian news agency ANSA reported that two additional workers were also injured, though their wounds were minor in comparison.

Moments after the collapse, video footage shared on social media captured the terrifying scene—thick clouds of dust pouring out from the ancient tower’s windows and the sound of heavy masonry giving way.

Fortunately, the area had been cordoned off from pedestrians due to the ongoing renovation works, preventing what could have been a much greater tragedy given the tower’s close proximity to the Colosseum—a spot that typically teems with tourists.

The Torre dei Conti boasts a storied past. It was commissioned in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III for his powerful Roman family, the Conti di Segni.

Originally intended as a symbol of their prestige, the tower has seen centuries of wear and damage, surviving earthquakes, urban transformation, and the passage of time.

Now, centuries later, the tower is undergoing much-needed structural repairs, but the recent collapse has raised serious concerns about safety protocols and the state of the building.

Featured image credit: Vanni Archive / Getty