Fatal collapse at Rome's medieval Torre dei Conti during restoration

On November 3, 2025, the Torre dei Conti, a celebrated medieval Roman monument under restoration since 2022, suffered multiple collapses. A large quantity of material detached from scaffolding at Largo Corrado Ricci, between Via dei Fori Imperiali and Via Cavour, raising a dense dust cloud. Hours later, a second collapse from the roof caused further debris. Worker Octay Stroici, 66, died from compression injuries despite 11 hours of rescue efforts by the Vigili del Fuoco. The tower, built in 1203 by Pope Innocent III for his brother Riccardo, originally stood 60 meters tall and was known as Torre Maggiore. Damaged by the 1349 earthquake and later modifications, it was donated by Mussolini in 1937 to the Federazione Nazionale Arditi d'Italia, which established its headquarters there. In 1938, underground spaces became the mausoleum of General Alessandro Parisi. After decades of neglect, a major restoration and repurposing project began in 2022 with PNRR funds, coordinated by the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma, aiming to turn the tower into a museum and service center for the Imperial Fora, scheduled until June 2026. Lazio Region President Francesco Rocca expressed condolences and thanks to emergency services.