A worker trapped for 11 hours under rubble in a partially collapsed medieval tower in central Rome died Monday night despite rescue efforts, Italian authorities confirmed.
The Romanian foreign ministry identified the man as Octav Stroici and thanked rescuers for their determination. Another Romanian worker was rescued and is in stable condition. The collapse occurred during renovation work on the 13th-century Torre dei Conti, which has been closed since 2007 and is undergoing an €8 million restoration.
Rescue crews faced complex challenges as parts of the tower continued to crumble, using cranes, aerial ladders, and rubble-suction equipment to reach Stroici. Three other workers escaped unharmed, while a fourth was hospitalized in critical condition. No firefighters were injured.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Romanian President Nicusor Dan expressed condolences. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible negligence during the restoration work.
The Torre dei Conti, damaged by previous earthquakes and collapses over centuries, is being restored with new museum installations and updated electrical and water systems, with structural surveys conducted prior to the latest phase of work.