Naples, collapse at former convent of San Paolo Maggiore, five workers involved, out of danger

A collapse occurred this morning in the cloisters of the former convent of San Paolo Maggiore in Naples involving five workers, fortunately all out of danger: only one of them is in code red (he was the only one who was buried under the rubble) but, like the others, he is not in danger of dying, and will remain under observation in the hospital, along with another of his colleagues (for the more serious one, the prognosis remains reserved, however). The two injured are 33 and 45 years old.

What collapsed was reportedly a portion of the masonry of one of the cloisters of the ancient convent, on which workers were carrying out some restoration work as part of the project to enhance the UNESCO site in the historic center of Naples, promoted by the City Council (at the end of this work, the complex of San Paolo Maggiore is scheduled to be included within a museum system). Authorities intervened at the scene to carry out surveys and investigations, also in view of the fact that the structure is habitually frequented by religious and students (some of the rooms of the former convent are in fact rented out).

The cause of the collapse still remains unknown, but it is thought to be a crack that was not properly controlled. The cloisters are part of the complex of San Paolo Maggiore, one of the city’s main religious monuments: the basilica, built at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, is one of the greatest examples of Baroque in the city, and inside it houses masterpieces by artists of the local school (Massimo Stanzione, Andrea Vaccaro, Francesco Solimena, Ferdinando Fuga and many other leading names of the Naples artistia of the 17th and 18th centuries).

Pictured: the facade of the basilica of San Paolo Maggiore. Ph. Credit

Naples, collapse at former convent of San Paolo Maggiore, five workers involved, out of danger

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