Worker dies after being trapped 11 hours in collapsed medieval tower in central Rome, prime minister says
A worker who had been trapped for 11 hours following the partial collapse of a medieval tower in central Rome has died, officials confirmed.
The 66-year-old man, Octay Stroici, was the last of several workers rescued from the 95-foot-tall Torre dei Conti after a rescue operation briefly paused due to a second collapse, according to Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Rome Fire Service. Stroici was reported in critical condition when he was brought to an ambulance before being rushed to the hospital.
Prime Minister Georgia Meloni expressed her condolences in a statement, saying, “Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable grief. I would like to thank once again the rescue workers and all those who worked tirelessly and courageously to try to save his life.”
Cari said Stroici had been conscious and communicating with rescuers before being freed. Around 140 firefighters responded to the scene, with some digging by hand to reach the trapped worker. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri reported that medical personnel had reached Stroici and supplied him with oxygen before he was removed from the rubble. No firefighters were injured during the incident.
The tower, located in the historic heart of Rome near the Roman Forum and Colosseum, partially collapsed around 11 a.m. local time while 11 workers from two companies were on site. One worker described the moment as sudden, recalling only seeing a cloud of dust before rescuers arrived.
A second partial collapse occurred about an hour later while firefighters were still attempting rescues. Three other workers were pulled from the debris, two unharmed and one, a 64-year-old man, hospitalized with a head injury.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The Torre dei Conti, built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a family residence, has been closed to the public since 2007 but recently received funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan for renovation.
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