Rome prosecutor’s office opens investigation into tragic incident at Torre dei Conti.
A worker who was trapped following the partial collapse of a mediaeval tower in the historic centre of Rome has died in hospital after being rescued late on Monday night.
Octay Stroici, a 66-year-old Romanian man, was rescued alive at 23.00 after being trapped under the rubble in an upper floor of the landmark tower for more than 11 hours.
Stroici arrived at the emergency room already in cardiac arrest, the Umberto I hospital said in a statement, and died in the early hours of Tuesday.
The massive rescue operation to save him, involving 140 firefighters, was described earlier on Monday by Rome prefect Lamberto Giannini as a “very complex situation” that posed “enormous risks” to rescuers.
#Roma, estratto in vita dai #vigilidelfuoco e affidato ai sanitari per il trasporto in ospedale l’operaio bloccato sotto le macerie per il crollo della Torre dei Conti. Sul posto hanno operato 140 unità del Corpo nazionale [#3novembre 23:00] pic.twitter.com/lPr7gH8qD9
— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) November 3, 2025
Stroici was one of a team of workers carrying out renovation work on the 13th-century tower as part of a four-year, €6.9 million ‘Caput Mundi’ project financed by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds.
There were two collapses at the tower: first at 11.20, when Stroici was trapped, and then about an hour and a half later, while firefighters were carrying out rescue attempts.
Giannini said that Stroici was shielded from the second collapse after firefighters had put “protective equipment” around the trapped man who was given an oxygen mask.
Rescue efforts continue in Rome tonight to free a man trapped under rubble inside an upper floor of a mediaeval tower that partly collapsed twice today during renovations. #TorredeiConti pic.twitter.com/g29AToyS6U
— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) November 3, 2025
Another worker on site, also Romanian, was taken to hospital in a critical condition and two other workers suffered minor injuries while three others escaped injury.
Police cordoned off the area around the tower which stands in Largo Corrado Ricci, opposite the Roman Forum and near the Colosseum, as the rescue operation continued into the night.
Condolences
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her “deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the Government, for the tragic passing of Octay Stroici”, thanking “once again the rescuers and all those who worked tirelessly and courageously to save his life.”
Culture minister Alessandro Giuli said: “We mourn the death of Octavian Stroici: his heart stopped beating despite the admirable efforts of the firefighters who extracted him alive from the rubble of the Torre dei Conti”.
“To his wife and his entire family, I extend my heartfelt condolences, along with those of the Ministry of Culture” – Giuli said in a statement – “Octavian was not alone for even a moment: in addition to the firefighters, national and Roman institutions, security forces, medical personnel, Civil Protection, and the citizens present participated until the very end in the attempt to save him. His memory will remain with us.”
Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri also expressed his deepest condolences, stating: “On behalf of Rome City Council and myself, I extend my heartfelt thoughts to his family, colleagues, and all those close to him. I want to thank the firefighters, law enforcement, and rescue workers who responded with great professionalism and dedication in such a complex and dramatic situation.”
Investigation
The collapse is being investigated by Rome Carabinieri, together with the Carabinieri Labour Inspectorate and the local health authority.
The Rome Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the crime of negligent injury and also into the crime of manslaughter, state broadcaster RAI News reports.
A brief history of Torre dei Conti
The origins of the Torre dei Conti in Rome date back to the mid-ninth century, built by Pietro dei Conti of Anagni on the remains of one of the four exedras of the Vespian’s Temple of Peace.
In a show of ecclesiastical power, the imposing building was enlarged in 1203 by Pope Innocent III for his family, the Counts of Segni, making it the largest tower in mediaeval Rome.
The current 29 meters of height constitute only the base of the tower, which originally would have risen to a height of 50 or 60 meters high but was damaged by three earthquakes, in 1348, 1630 and 1644.
Petrarch
Italian poet Francesco Petrarch, one of the most influential humanist scholars of the 14th century, described the tower as “unique in the world”.
Innocent III had the tower clad with travertine slabs taken from the nearby Imperial Forums however these were removed in the late 16th century for the construction of Porta Pia.
At the end of the 17th century, the tower underwent a major restoration under Pope Alexander VIII, with the two existing buttresses dating from that time.
In the following centuries the tower was abandoned and used as a coal storage facility.
Modern era
The tower was isolated when the surrounding alleys were destroyed during the demolition works to build Via Cavour in the late 19th century and Via dell’Impero (today Via dei Fori Imperiali) in 1930.
The tower overlooks Largo Corrado Ricci, named after the director general of antiquities and fine arts during the excavations to make way for Via dell’Impero, replacing the old Piazza delle Carrette, so called because of the carts that parked there when it was a market area.
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In more recent times the building hosted city offices but has been closed since 2007.
The small park area under the tower has been closed off for several years, to facilitate archaeological excavations, and in September 2024 the city cut down three large umbrella pine trees adjacent to the building as part of a major redevelopment of the area.
