The Colosseum in Rome will remain closed to the public on Wednesday after a 22-year-old technician died in a “tragic” accident, Italy's Ministry of Culture has said.
Andrea Moretti, a specialist rope access worker, had been installing cabling for an illumination project expected to be completed next month when he fell about 10 metres at the ancient Roman arena on Tuesday night.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park’s press office said thousands of visitors had entered the site early on Wednesday before the closure could be implemented. It said the site will be closed officially after all those visitors leave. All construction and maintenance work at the Colosseum has also been suspended until further notice.
Authorities are working to determine the circumstances of the incident.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the tragic death of Andrea Moretti,” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
“Dying at the age of 22 is unacceptable — even more so when it happens in the workplace.”
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said the “tragic event” had ”shocked and stunned” the country.
“The few words we can express are dedicated to Andrea, his family, and his loved ones,” Mr Giuli said.
“We extend to everyone our deepest, most sorrowful condolences at the senseless death of a young man dedicated to his work.”
Initially, only a partial closure of the monument was announced, but this drew protests from Italy's biggest union, the CGIL.
"Humanity comes before tourists," said Natale di Cola, the CGIL's Rome chief.
The incident comes less than a year after the death of a Romanian worker who was trapped for hours under the rubble of a partially collapsed medieval tower near the Colosseum last November.
Built 2,000 years ago, the Colosseum was the biggest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire and was used to host gladiator fights, executions and animal hunts. It is Italy's most visited tourist attraction.
