Part of a medieval tower in the heart of Rome's tourist district has collapsed, trapping one man and leaving another critically injured. A section of the Torre dei Conti, on the edge of the famous Roman Forum and close to the Colosseum, gave way just after 11:30 local time (10:30 GMT).
It's a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside, Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini said. The man is conscious and communicating with rescue workers.
The tower has been closed to the public for many years, and was undergoing conservation work when a section collapsed.
While rescue efforts were still under way, a second section of the 29m (90ft) high tower began crumbling again, with bricks raining down, creating a huge cloud of dust. Firefighters, initially unharmed, paused their rescue work temporarily but resumed the search for the missing man.
After the initial collapse, firefighters put up some protection around the trapped man; they were able to shield him during the subsequent collapse, Lamberto Giannini added.
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, he noted. A police chief assured that there is no imminent danger of the tower completely collapsing.
One worker was taken to hospital in a critical condition, while another, 67-year-old Ottaviano, who escaped uninjured from a balcony, stated that the situation was unsafe.
Rome's mayor and the culture minister have visited the scene, and additional equipment, including a crane and drone, is being utilized to assist in the rescue operation.
This medieval tower is part of the Roman Forum, a major tourist attraction situated in the city’s core, albeit cordoned off by police due to safety concerns. Built by Pope Innocent III, the tower originally served as a residence for his brother.
