A section of the 13th-century Torre dei Conti near the Roman Forum and Colosseum partially collapsed during renovation work on Monday, leaving one construction worker trapped and another critically injured as emergency teams carried out a complex rescue . Firefighters reported the structure gave way more than once while crews were on site, forcing them to withdraw at times because of falling debris and the risk of further collapse . Rescue operations continued into the afternoon amid safety concerns for both trapped personnel and first responders, and the site has drawn attention because the tower was under restoration when it failed .

Highlights:

• Second collapse: Video and reports show parts of the tower fell a second time while firefighters were working, creating dust clouds and forcing aerial teams to retreat for safety .
• Eu funding: The tower was being restored as part of the Caput Mundi–Next Generation EU programme, a post‑Covid EU reconstruction project that funded the work now under investigation .
• Official presence: Rome's prefect, mayor and the culture minister visited the scene as rescuers continued operations, underlining the incident's prominence in the city's emergency response .
• Worker nationality: Reports identify at least one of the workers involved as Romanian, a detail given in coverage of those rescued and those taken to hospital .
• Safety context: The collapse came days after Italy approved new workplace safety legislation following a series of fatal accidents, a fact observers linked to wider concerns about construction-site oversight .

We hope for a good result but it’s not simple. - Lamberto Giannini

Perspectives:

• Firefighters / first responders: Rescuers described the operation as complex and risky because sections of the structure continued to give way, forcing aerial teams to pull back amid falling debris . (SCMP)
• Prefect of Rome (Lamberto Giannini): The second collapse rendered the operation very long and complex, and officials expressed cautious hope for a good outcome . (Politico)
• Onlookers / witnesses: A tourist-security guard reported seeing rescue teams pull people through a window amid dust and bricks falling after the collapse, describing the scene as chaotic . (Politico)

Sources:

• Medieval tower partially collapses in central Rome • FRANCE 24 English - youtube.com
• Rescuers in Rome try to reach a worker trapped in partially collapsed tower - scmp.com
• Worker reportedly hurt as medieval tower partially collapses in Rome - cbsnews.com
• Rome tower collapse near Colosseum leaves one trapped - dw.com
• Medieval tower partially collapses in central Rome - france24.com
• Rome firefighters battle to rescue worker trapped under collapsed medieval tower - straitstimes.com
• Medieval tower in Rome being restored using EU cash collapses - politico.eu
• Medieval tower partially collapses in Rome (VIDEOS) - rt.com
• Torre dei Conti, medieval tower near Rome’s Colosseum, partly collapses trapping worker - theglobeandmail.com
• Rescue under way after medieval tower partially collapses in Rome - bbc.com
• Watch: Moment medieval Torre dei Conti in Rome partially collapses during renovations - euronews.com
• A Rome medieval tower partially collapses, badly injuring a worker - abcnews.go.com
• Rescuers try to free man trapped in partly collapsed medieval tower in Rome - theguardian.com
• Torre dei Conti Partially Collapses in Rome, Trapping Worker - nytimes.com
• 'Just started erupting': Medieval tower near Colosseum in Rome collapses - abc.net.au
• A part of the Torre dei Conti tower collapses in Rome, Italy, injuring a worker and leaving another trapped. (Reuters) - reuters.com