Rome's Medieval Tower Collapse Tragedy: Worker Killed During Renovations

Liputan6.com, Jakarta A tragic incident rocked the Italian capital, Rome, on Monday, November 3, 2025, when part of the historic medieval tower, the Torre dei Conti, collapsed.

The tragic event occurred while the centuries-old tower was undergoing renovations.

As a result of the collapse, a Romanian construction worker, Octay Stroici, was found dead after a long and difficult rescue effort.

The Torre dei Conti, which stood majestically in the center of Rome near the Imperial Forum and the Colosseum, now bears silent witness to a tragedy.

The collapse sent debris tumbling onto the streets and a thick cloud of dust rising.

This is the moment a medieval tower partially collapses near the Colosseum in Rome.This is the second partial collapse of the Torre dei Conti, which was built in the early 13th century and is undergoing renovations.The first collapse caused serious injuries to a worker, while… pic.twitter.com/xhqh3JNMqa

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 3, 2025

The partial collapse of the Torre dei Conti tower occurred in two shocking stages.

The first collapse was reported around 11:30 a.m. local time, followed by a second collapse approximately 90 minutes later, worsening the situation at the scene.

The initial collapse affected the central buttress on the south side of the structure, causing the sloping base beneath to collapse.

Shortly after, the second collapse damaged part of the tower's staircase and roof, further complicating the ongoing rescue efforts.

This incident immediately caused panic among local residents and other workers.

Debris from the ancient structure spilled onto the streets.

Torre dei Conti is a medieval tower steepled in history, built in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III for his family.

The tower was originally twice its current height, but was reduced in size after being severely damaged by earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries.

Previously, the tower served as the city hall, but had been unused since 2006.

At the time of the incident, the Torre dei Conti was undergoing extensive renovations funded by the European Union and Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The renovation project aimed to transform the historic tower into a modern museum and conference hall.

The phase of work, which began in June 2025, including asbestos removal, was nearing completion.

The rescue effort at the site of this medieval tower collapse in Rome was described by firefighters as extremely complex.

Earlier, Rome prefect Lamberto Giannini had described it as a "very complex situation".

Giannini said that after the initial collapse firefighters had "put up some protection" around the trapped man, so when the second collapse happened, "they obviously shielded him".

One worker, Octay Stroici, was trapped under the rubble, and each time a part of his body was freed, further collapses occurred, burying him again.

Although firefighters managed to install a "protection" around Stroici after the initial collapse, he was still seriously injured.

After being successfully evacuated and rushed to the hospital, resuscitation efforts for about an hour were unsuccessful, and his death was pronounced at 12:20 a.m.

Another worker, 67-year-old Ottaviano, who was inside at the time of the collapse but escaped from a balcony uninjured, told the AFP news agency: "It was not safe. I just want to go home."

Two other workers suffered minor injuries and refused treatment, while three were safely evacuated without injury.

Approximately 140 firefighters were involved in the intensive rescue operation, even using drones to inspect the tower.

The tragedy of the medieval tower collapse in Rome sparked reactions from various parties.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed deep sorrow and condolences for the death of Octay Stroici. 

"My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the person currently fighting for his life beneath the rubble, and to his family, for whom I sincerely hope that this tragedy finds a positive outcome," wrote Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on X before the rescue was complete.

Rome's Cultural Heritage Directorate stated that analyses conducted at the start of the renovations indicated the "necessary safety conditions" for the work.