A Romanian construction worker has died after being pulled from the rubble of a medieval tower that partially collapsed in central Rome on Monday. The man, identified as Octay Stroici, succumbed to his injuries at Umberto I Hospital early Tuesday, despite doctors’ efforts to revive him.
According to Italian media reports, Stroici remained conscious throughout the lengthy rescue operation before being rushed to hospital in critical condition. “Resuscitation attempts were made for about an hour, but spontaneous cardiac activity could not be restored,” the ANSA news agency reported.
The 13th-century Torre dei Conti, located near the Imperial Forum and close to the Colosseum, was undergoing renovations funded by the European Union when it partly collapsed just before midday. The initial collapse sent debris crashing into the street, creating a large cloud of white dust.
Three other workers were rescued from the site, one of whom was also in critical condition. Authorities later confirmed that a second partial collapse occurred about 90 minutes after the first, though firefighters had managed to erect protective barriers around the trapped man.
“It was not safe. I just want to go home,” said Ottaviano, a 67-year-old worker who narrowly escaped from a balcony during the first collapse, his uniform covered in dust.
The Directorate of Cultural Heritage said that the collapse affected a buttress, part of the tower’s base, stairwell, and roof. The restoration phase launched in June 2025, including asbestos removal, was nearly complete, and prior assessments had confirmed safety conditions for the work.
The incident has also sparked a diplomatic spat after Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova linked the accident to Italy’s support for Ukraine, prompting Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani to condemn her remarks as “shameful and unacceptable.”
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the collapse of one of Rome’s most historic landmarks.
