Rome’s Medieval Tower Suffers Partial Collapse (VIDEOS)
Emergency services report that at least one construction worker is trapped in the rubble following the partial collapse of the 13th-century tower.
The Torre dei Conti, a medieval tower near Rome’s Colosseum, suffered a partial collapse on Monday. The incident injured three construction workers, with one trapped beneath the debris.
The tower, built in the 13th century, has been closed since 2006 and was undergoing a four-year renovation scheduled to finish next year. Several construction workers were on-site when the collapse occurred. One worker sustained critical injuries, two others suffered minor injuries, and one became trapped.
A fire department spokesman told Reuters, “We are trying to get him out alive, but the situation is complex because of the risk of further collapses.”
Videos circulating online show masonry falling from the building immediately after the collapse began, with one of the walls partially collapsing. The building appears to have sustained significant internal damage.
Shock in Rome as section of mediaeval landmark Torre di Conti collapses
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Online footage indicates the tower collapsed at least twice. The second collapse happened as emergency responders arrived. Firefighters were seen avoiding falling bricks.
Constructed in the early 13th century as a fortified residence for the Segni noble family, the tower originally stood at 60m (over 195 feet). However, repeated earthquakes damaged the structure, destroying its upper levels and leading to its abandonment in the mid-14th century. Repaired in the 17th century, the tower was reinforced with two large external buttresses. One of these buttresses appears to have been destroyed in Monday’s collapse.
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