Prosecutors have launched a manslaughter investigation following the death of a worker who was trapped when part of a medieval monument in central Rome collapsed.
Octav Stroici, 66, was rescued on Monday night after being buried for 11 hours under fallen masonry but later died from his injuries at Umberto I Hospital. Romanian officials, who confirmed he was from their country, expressed gratitude to the rescue teams for their lengthy, complex, and delicate efforts to save him.
The city of Rome has declared Wednesday a day of mourning in honor of Stroici.
Lamberto Giannini, the city prefect, explained that the rescue operation took so long because “every time a part of his body was freed, more rubble would cover it again.”
According to La Repubblica, Stroici, originally from Suceava in northern Romania, had lived with his family in Italy for over 30 years. A colleague described him to the newspaper as “an exquisite, calm, and very good person.”
Stroici was part of an 11-person team carrying out restoration work on the 29-meter Torre dei Conti near the Colosseum when the structure collapsed twice on Monday.
Another worker, 66-year-old Gaetano La Manna, was taken to San Giovanni Hospital with injuries but was released on Monday night, as reported by Corriere della Sera. Two others were rescued by firefighters using aerial ladders before the second collapse trapped Stroici inside.
The workers were employed by specialist restoration companies hired by the city council to reinforce the monument under a project funded by the EU’s post-pandemic recovery fund.
The area around the 13th-century tower, originally built as a fortified residence by Richard Conti, brother of Pope Innocent III, remained cordoned off on Tuesday as investigators looked into the cause of the collapse. Curious tourists gathered at the site, some filming and taking selfies.
Rome’s cultural heritage office stated that the landmark had been closed since 2007 and was scheduled to reopen next year after nearly €7 million in repairs. The plan was to create a museum dedicated to the Roman Forum and offer tours of the tower and its underground chambers.
In a statement, the office noted that structural investigations, load tests, and core samples had been conducted to ensure the building’s stability and that these checks had confirmed the necessary safety conditions for the restoration to proceed.
There is speculation that the building’s stability may have been affected by a magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Anzio on Saturday night, which was felt in parts of Rome. Others have pointed to the construction of an underground station at nearby Piazza Venezia.
Elena Cerchi, who works at a pharmacy near the tower, said, “It makes me afraid to take the metro. It is extremely sad. Rome is fragile, and it feels very risky to be carrying out these big jobs in the center.”
The incident has renewed the debate over workplace safety in Italy, with the country’s largest union, Cgil, blaming inadequate safety standards. The union reports that an average of three workers die each day in workplace accidents.
Natale Di Cola, head of Cgil’s Rome and Lazio unit, commented, “In a healthy country, Octav, aged 66, wouldn’t have found himself on a construction site performing demanding, intense, and dangerous tasks to earn a living. All of this must change.”
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into culpable disaster and manslaughter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about an investigation into a workers death from a building collapse in Rome designed to be clear concise and natural
Basic Information The Incident
1 What happened in Rome
A building under construction or renovation collapsed resulting in the death of a worker
2 Where and when did this happen
The incident occurred at a specific building site in Rome
3 Who was the worker that died
Authorities have not yet released the name publicly but they have likely notified the next of kin He was a construction worker employed on the site
4 Was anyone else injured
Reports indicate that
About the Investigation
5 Who is leading the investigation
Multiple agencies are typically involved including the Rome Public Prosecutors Office the police and workplace safety authorities
6 What is the main goal of the investigation
The primary goal is to determine the exact cause of the collapse and to identify whether any safety violations or criminal negligence led to the workers death
7 What could the investigation find
It could conclude the collapse was due to an unavoidable accident or it could find responsibility with individuals or companies for factors like faulty design use of substandard materials or failure to follow safety protocols
8 What happens if someone is found responsible
If criminal negligence is proven those responsible could face charges such as manslaughter and violations of workplace safety laws which can lead to heavy fines and imprisonment
9 How long will the investigation take
There is no set timeline Complex investigations like this can take months or even years to complete as experts analyze the rubble review documents and interview witnesses
Safety Responsibility and Consequences
10 Who is responsible for safety on a construction site in Italy
Ultimate responsibility lies with the employer and the site manager They are legally required to ensure a safe work environment and that all safety regulations are followed
11 What are the common causes of building collapses
Common causes include structural design flaws use of poorquality materials
