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A worker has been trapped for hours after a medieval tower collapsed in Rome on Nov. 3Three other workers were injured, including one who was transported to a local hospital with serious injuriesA city official said there were signs of life following the second collapse that trapped the man
One worker was seriously injured and another remains trapped after a 13th-century tower in Rome partially collapsed during restoration efforts, not far from the iconic Colosseum in Rome.
On Monday, Nov. 3, a group was restoring the Torre dei Conti when part of the structure came down in an explosion of white dust, The New York Timesthe Agence France-Presse and Reuters reported. One worker was critically injured, while two others suffered minor injuries, according to the outlets.
The first collapse occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time, with a second crash happening about 90 minutes later, according to Reuters. The situation has become even more precarious for the fourth worker, who has been trapped for hours.
Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini, the city’s top law enforcement official, told reporters that following the first collapse, firefighters were able to put “some protection” around the man, helping shield him when more of the building came down, AFP reported.
“It’s a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside,” Giannini told reporters, according to the outlet.
“There are signs — we don’t know the condition — but there are signs that he is still alive,” the official added.
City officials did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The Torre dei Conti was built by Pope Innocent III for his family and serves as a classic example of a medieval tower-house in Rome. Such structures, including residences and fortresses, were created by religious authorities and noble families, according to the city’s tourism website.
In modern times, the Torre dei Conti housed public offices. Since 2006, the tower has been vacant, leading to its state of disrepair, according to a city website. A nearly $8 million restoration project began in June 2022 and was set to be completed in June 2026.
“The project involves the structural recovery, restoration, safety, and preservation of the Torre dei Conti and its underground section,” the city said, adding that the property is set to become a museum. The impact of the partial collapse on these plans is unclear.
Right now, city officials and first responders are focused on recovering the trapped worker and keeping locals and visitors safe. The tower is just a seven-minute walk away from the Colosseum, one of the world’s most popular historic sites.
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“It will be a very long operation because we have to try to save the person, but we also have to try to mitigate… the enormous risks faced by the people trying to carry out the rescue,” Giannini told reporters, according to AFP.
He added, “We hope the outcome will be good, but it is not easy.”
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