Part of the Torre dei Conti, a medieval tower located in the heart of Rome near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, collapsed on Monday morning, leaving one worker trapped beneath rubble and another hospitalized in critical condition, authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred just after 11:30 a.m. local time (10:30 GMT) while restoration work was underway on the centuries-old structure, which has been closed to the public for many years due to safety concerns.

“It’s a very complex situation for the firefighters because there is a person trapped inside,” said Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini, adding that the trapped man remains conscious and in communication with rescuers.

Shortly after the initial collapse, a second section of the 29-meter (90-foot) high tower began to crumble, sending bricks and debris raining down and filling the area with dust. Firefighters temporarily suspended the rescue to ensure their safety before resuming operations.

Giannini noted that firefighters had managed to install protective barriers around the trapped worker before the second collapse, which helped shield him from further injury.

“It will be a very long operation because we have to try to save the person, but we also have to mitigate the enormous risks faced by those carrying out the rescue,” Giannini said.

Authorities reported that one worker was transported to the hospital in critical condition, while a third, 67-year-old Ottaviano, managed to escape uninjured through a balcony.

Emergency services have deployed cranes and drones to assist with the complex rescue mission. The surrounding streets have been cordoned off as a precaution, and both Rome’s mayor and Italy’s culture minister visited the scene to oversee operations.

Despite the dramatic collapse, police officials stated that there is no imminent danger of the entire structure disintegrating.

Built in the 13th century, the Torre dei Conti was commissioned by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his brother. Standing as a historic symbol of medieval Rome, the tower forms part of the Roman Forum complex, one of the city’s most iconic tourist sites.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with experts expected to assess the structural integrity of the remaining sections in the coming days. (ILKHA)