The Torre dei Conti, which was built in 1283 and is located near the Colosseum in Rome, partially collapsed on Monday, November 3, according to a report in the New York Times.
One worker was seriously injured, while another was trapped in the structure for nearly 11 hours. That worker, identified by officials as Octay Stroici, was rescued, but he died soon afterward, according to Italian officials.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, “I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octay Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome. We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering.”
Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, declared Wednesday, November 5, a day of mourning in honor of Stroici, a worker from Romania who was part of a conservation team on the collapsed tower.
“I express my deepest condolences for the passing of Octav Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti,” Gualtieri said in a statement. “On behalf of Rome Capital and myself, I extend my heartfelt thoughts to his family, colleagues, and all those close to him. I would like to thank the firefighters, law enforcement, and rescue workers who responded with great professionalism and dedication in such a complex and dramatic situation.”
The Torre dei Conti, which rises nearly 100 feet and was once a papal residence, collapsed in two parts on Monday. Sections of the central buttress on the tower’s southern side fell before noon local time, trapping several workers. Three were rescued by a fire truck ladder, with one being admitted to the hospital. A second collapse, impacting a stairwell and the roof, occurred during the initial rescue effort, which trapped Stroici. Some 140 firefighters had been involved in the rescue efforts.
The Medieval tower, which had most recently been used as offices until 2006, was in a state of disrepair and was currently undergoing restoration. The repairs, which had nearly $8 million earmarked for them, began in 2022 and were expected to be completed in 2026.
According to the City of Rome’s website, “These interventions will be preparatory to enhancing the property and making it accessible to the public (citizens and tourists), particularly as a museum dedicated to the most recent phases of the Imperial Fora and a Service Center for the Central Archaeological Area.”
