Part of the Torre dei Conti, currently undergoing restoration work, collapsed on Monday in Largo Corrado Ricci, near Via dei Fori Imperiali in central Rome.
Firefighters rescued four workers who were on site at the time of the incident. During the ongoing rescue operations, a second collapse occurred, forcing police to order everyone to move away from the area.
According to emergency responders, eleven people have been pulled from the rubble, while one worker remains trapped. At least one of the injured is reported to be in serious condition.
The Torre dei Conti, located between Via Cavour and Via dei Fori Imperiali, is one of Rome’s most imposing medieval towers. It was built in 1203 at the behest of Pope Innocent III, of the Conti di Segni family, atop the ancient remains of the Temple of Peace.
Originally standing over 50 meters tall, the tower now measures about 29 meters due to centuries of damage from earthquakes and urban transformations.
Constructed in tuff and brick and once clad in travertine, the tower served both residential and defensive purposes, symbolizing papal and noble power in the heart of medieval Rome. Closed to the public in recent years, it has been the focus of a restoration and cultural enhancement project aimed at reopening it as part of the pedestrian area around the Imperial Forums.