Emergency crews in Rome launched a lengthy operation on Monday as they tried to rescue a person trapped for hours under rubble following the partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum. A fire department spokesperson told Reuters that first responders were trying to get the man “out alive but the situation is complex because of the risk of further collapses.”
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Portions of the 95-foot Torre dei Conti hit the ground at least twice, as shown in social media videos and Reuters footage captured from the scene. The second collapse reportedly occurred around 90 minutes after the first, when firefighters were responding to the scene with ladders. No emergency personnel were hurt as a result of falling debris.
Worker survives second collapse
Officials said the trapped man, a worker, survived the second collapse, but efforts to free him “will be very long and difficult because of the very high risk of (more) collapses,” Rome police told Reuters.
A second worker was reportedly rescued and hospitalized in serious condition. Two other workers had minor injuries that did not require hospitalization, according to Reuters.
The structure is reportedly still standing, despite significant damage.
Tower is undergoing renovations
Rome city officials note that the building once housed offices but has been vacant since 2006. It is undergoing a four-year renovation project scheduled for completion next year.
During the construction project, the area surrounding the tower has been closed off to the public.
The exact cause of the collapse is currently unclear, but the structure had suffered damage from previous earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries.
