Sawt Falasteen - Worker dies after medieval tower partly collapses in Rome

The man, a Romanian national, had remained conscious during the long rescue operation before being hospitalised in critical condition, according to authorities.

"Resuscitation attempts were made for about an hour to save Octay Stroici," Italian news agency ANSA said, citing the Umberto I hospital.

"Despite this, spontaneous cardiac activity could not be restored" and his "death was pronounced at 12:20 am."

He had been helping to renovate the Torre dei Conti, which partially collapsed shortly before midday Monday, sending rubble into the street and a thick white cloud of dust into the air.

Three other workers were earlier evacuated from the site, one of them in critical condition, a spokesman for the fire service told AFP.

The tower is in a busy area, just off the Imperial Forum and close to the Colosseum, Italy's top tourist site.

A second partial collapse of the tower about one and a half hours later sent up further billowing clouds of dust.

After the first collapse, firefighters managed to "put up some protection" around the trapped man, so when the second collapse occurred he was shielded, Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini said.

One worker inside at the time of the first collapse told AFP he escaped from a balcony.

"It was not safe. I just want to go home," said the man, white dust covering his uniform, who gave his name as Ottaviano and his age as 67.

The Torre dei Conti, dating from the early 13th century, was being restored with European Union funds.

Monday's collapses affected a buttress and part of the tower's base, then part of the stairwell and the roof, Rome's Directorate of Cultural Heritage said in a statement.

The phase of work launched in June 2025, which included asbestos removal, was practically complete.

The Italian government summoned Russia's ambassador after the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman made a link between the accident and Russia's support for Ukraine.

"As long as the Italian government keeps uselessly wasting taxpayers' money, all of Italy will collapse, from the economy to its towers," said the spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, on Telegram.

Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, slammed Zakharova's remarks as "shameful, unacceptable".

R.Shaban--SF-PST