President Nicusor Dan sent his condolences to the family of the Romanian national who died in Italy, after a tower in the center of Rome, where he worked, collapsed.
"I learned with deep sadness the news that the Romanian trapped under the rubble of the medieval tower in Rome passed away last night in the hospital. I send my condolences to his family and loved ones. My thoughts also go out to all Romanians working far from home, with dedication and sacrifice," the head of state wrote on X platform.
He praised the efforts of the Italian teams who tried for over 11 hours to save the Romanian's life.
"May God rest him in peace and bring comfort to the grieving family," the president added.
The Romanian worker trapped under rubble after part of a medieval tower in the center of Rome collapsed on Monday has died in the hospital after being rescued alive over 10 hours after the accident. He then went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived upon arrival at the hospital, Italian media reported, including ANSA news agency - the dpa news agency reports.
The incident occurred at the historic Torre dei Conti tower, which is undergoing renovation. The tower is located close to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, both popular tourist attractions.
Three other workers were initially trapped on the upper level of the building, but they were rescued and sustained only minor injuries, according to ANSA. One of the injured workers was a Romanian national.
"The worker who remained trapped under the rubble for hours after the collapse of Torre dei Conti did not survive, despite the extraordinary efforts of the emergency teams," President of Lazio Francesco Rocca said, according to ANSA. "One cannot and should not die at work," he added.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by a cloud of dust over the narrow streets in the area. Immediately after the partial collapse, firefighters and police sealed off the entire area to pedestrians and vehicles in order to allow emergency services to operate.
While the firefighters were working on a rotating ladder, another part of the tower collapsed. However, they managed to descend in time and reach safety.
Analyses carried out before the start of the tower's restoration works confirmed the necessary safety conditions for carrying out interventions on the ceilings, according to the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, France Presse reports. The phase of works that began in June 2025, which focused particularly on asbestos removal, was practically complete.
The Rome Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation on Monday for negligence and involuntary bodily harm, while the Carabinieri have already questioned the workers and those responsible for the works, according to local media.
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