Tragic Collapse in Rome: Worker Perishes in Tower Incident

Tue Nov 04 2025 16:30:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Romanian worker tragically died after a section of the Torre dei Conti, a medieval tower in Rome, collapsed, trapping him for nearly twelve hours. Emergency services faced significant challenges during his rescue.

In a devastating incident in Rome, Octay Stroici, a worker involved in conservation efforts, died after being trapped under the rubble of the Torre dei Conti when part of the medieval structure collapsed. His rescue operations were hindered by additional risks of further collapses. Another worker is in critical condition, and an investigation is underway.

A worker who was trapped after part of a medieval tower collapsed in the heart of Rome has died, according to hospital officials.

Octay Stroici was pulled free at 23:00 local time (22:00 GMT), nearly twelve hours after a section of the Torre dei Conti, on the edge of the famous Roman Forum and close to the Colosseum, gave way and trapped him beneath.

His heart stopped in the ambulance, and doctors at the hospital he was rushed to were unable to save him.

The Romanian foreign ministry said Stroici was a Romanian national, as was another worker among three others pulled from the rubble. One is said to be in critical condition.

Stroici's rescue was initially described as an exceptional feat by firefighters who worked late into the night using drones and rubble clearers despite the risk that the fragile tower could collapse further. He had been conscious and talking to the emergency workers throughout the rescue.

Stroici had been carrying out conservation work on the medieval tower, which is part of the Roman Forum and is a major tourist location. However, this particular building had been empty and abandoned for many years.

The Rome Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the incident.

Efforts to rescue Stroici were interrupted when a second section of the 29m (90ft) high tower began crumbling again, creating a huge cloud of dust. Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini described the situation as very complex and added that rescuers had needed to mitigate many risks during the operation.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her sympathies, hoping for a positive outcome for the individual still trapped and his family.

Another worker, 67-year-old Ottaviano, who was inside at the time of the collapse but escaped from a balcony uninjured, indicated that the site was not safe.

Rome's mayor and Italy's culture minister visited the scene, indicating the city's commitment to investigating and preventing further incidents at such historically significant structures.