Stroici had been trapped for hours under the rubble, and despite being conscious during the rescue operation, he succumbed to his injuries at Umberto I Hospital around 12:20 am on Tuesday

By Asaye Bankole

A tragic incident occurred in Rome when Octay Stroici, a 43-year-old Romanian worker, died after being rescued from the partial collapse of the medieval Torre dei Conti tower.

Stroici had been trapped for hours under the rubble, and despite being conscious during the rescue operation, he succumbed to his injuries at Umberto I Hospital around 12:20 am on Tuesday.

The collapse, which happened on Monday, November 3, sent debris crashing onto the street and created a thick cloud of dust over the historic area.

Three other workers were rescued unharmed, while another worker, aged 64, was hospitalized in critical condition.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed deep sorrow and condolences for Stroici’s tragic death, thanking rescue workers for their efforts.

The incident has raised concerns about the structural integrity of historical sites and the impact of climate change on preservation efforts.

A trapped worker was conscious and communicating with rescue teams before being freed, Cari said. Around 140 firefighters responded to the scene, some digging with their bare hands. Rome’s Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, said doctors reached the worker and supplied oxygen just before the rescue.

No firefighters were hurt. The tower, located in Rome’s historic center near the Roman Forum and Colosseum, collapsed around 11 am with 11 workers on site from two companies.

The cause of the Torre dei Conti collapse is still under investigation.

Although the tower has been closed to the public since 2007, it recently received a significant grant from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan for renovation, according to officials. Built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a family residence, the historic tower is located near the Colosseum and Imperial Forum in Rome.

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