{"id":353197,"date":"2025-11-03T18:45:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/353197\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T18:45:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:45:20","slug":"rome-medieval-tower-partially-collapses-during-renovations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/353197\/","title":{"rendered":"Rome medieval tower partially collapses during renovations"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROME (AP) \u2014 Firefighters worked to rescue a worker trapped for hours beneath the rubble of a medieval tower that partially collapsed while under renovation in the heart of Italy\u2019s<\/a> capital on Monday, critically injuring another worker. <\/p>\n

Firefighters faced a complex task as the structure continued to give way as they tried to get near the trapped worker through a first-floor window, forcing their retreat on telescopic aerial ladders in a cloud of smoke. Another approach on two ladders was also aborted, and a drone sent up in their stead.<\/p>\n

As dusk approached, firefighters lifted on a crane used giant tubes to suck rubble out of the second-floor window. <\/p>\n

Three workers were rescued unharmed after the initial midday collapse, said firefighter spokesperson Luca Cari. Italian media reported that another worker, age 64, was hospitalized in critical condition but there was no immediate update on his condition. No firefighters were injured in the ongoing operation. <\/p>\n

Rome\u2019s top law enforcement official, Prefect Lamberto Giannini, said there were \u201csigns of life\u201d from the trapped worker, and that firefighters had managed to give him some protective cover during an earlier rescue attempt. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"This<\/p>\n

This combo of three pictures shows a cloud of debris from a second collapse surrounding firefighters who were trying to rescue a worker after a medieval tower near the Roman Forum partially collapsed during renovation work, in Rome, Italy, Monday Nov. 3 2025. (AP Photo\/Domenico Stinellis)<\/p>\n

This combo of three pictures shows a cloud of debris from a second collapse surrounding firefighters who were trying to rescue a worker after a medieval tower near the Roman Forum partially collapsed during renovation work, in Rome, Italy, Monday Nov. 3 2025. (AP Photo\/Domenico Stinellis)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

Giannini called the situation \u201cvery complex\u201d and said that other equipment was being brought in. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be a very long operation. We must try to save this person while mitigating the enormous risks to the people who are trying to save him,\u2019’ Giannini told reporters. <\/p>\n

Hundreds of tourists had assembled to watch as firefighters used a mobile ladder to bring a stretcher to the upper level of the Torre dei Conti during the first rescue attempt. Suddenly, another part of the structure partially collapsed, sending up a cloud of debris and forcing firefighters to quickly descend on the ladder.<\/p>\n

Queen Paglinawan was working in a nearby gelato parlor when she heard the two loud noises from the town in quick succession. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was working and then I heard something falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way,\u2019’ Paglinawan, 27, said as yet another collapse occurred in the background.<\/p>\n

\"Firefighters<\/p>\n

\n Firefighters work on a medieval tower Torre dei Conti near the Roman Forum after it had partially collapsed during renovation works, meters away from the Colosseum in Rome, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo\/Andrew Medichini)\n <\/p>\n

Firefighters work on a medieval tower Torre dei Conti near the Roman Forum after it had partially collapsed during renovation works, meters away from the Colosseum in Rome, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo\/Andrew Medichini)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n A cloud of debris from a second collapse is seen surrounding firefighters who were trying to rescue a worker after a medieval tower near the Roman Forum partially collapsed during renovation work, in Rome, Monday Nov. 3 2025. (Mauro Scrobogna\/LaPresse via AP)\n <\/p>\n

A cloud of debris from a second collapse is seen surrounding firefighters who were trying to rescue a worker after a medieval tower near the Roman Forum partially collapsed during renovation work, in Rome, Monday Nov. 3 2025. (Mauro Scrobogna\/LaPresse via AP)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

German student Viktoria Braeu passed by the scene just as the partial collapse during the firefighters\u2019 rescue occurred. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just at the Colosseum \u2026 and we were just walking to get some food. \u2026 And then we were like, \u2018It\u2019s probably not long until it\u2019s going to go down,\u2019 and then it just started erupting,\u2019’ said Braeu, 18. <\/p>\n

The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. The tower was damaged in a 1349 earthquake and suffered subsequent collapses in the 17th century.<\/p>\n

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli were at the scene, but did not speak to reporters. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe firefighters risked their lives with the second collapse. We are worried for the worker who remains trapped,\u2019’ said Federico Mollicone, chairman of the parliamentary culture committee. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ROME (AP) \u2014 Firefighters worked to rescue a worker trapped for hours beneath the rubble of a medieval…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":353198,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[172731,172732,57,2219,172733,50,34294,172730,103,107],"class_list":{"0":"post-353197","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-alessandro-giuli","9":"tag-federico-mollicone","10":"tag-general-news","11":"tag-italy","12":"tag-luca-cari","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-rome","15":"tag-viktoria-braeu","16":"tag-world","17":"tag-world-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115487252601493387","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/353198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}