Lightning Damages Rome's Ancient Constantine Arch During a Violent Thunderstorm

WORLD

Lightning Damages Rome’s Ancient Constantine Arch During a Violent Thunderstorm

September 4, 2024

Workers on site with cranes gather up fragments and secure broken areas of the 315 A.D Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum, in Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, after lightning struck it during a storm Tuesday, Sept. 3, loosening fragments from the ancient Roman structure. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

ROME (AP) — Lightning struck Rome’s Constantine Arch near the Colosseum during a violent thunderstorm, loosening fragments from the ancient structure.

The fragments from Tuesday’s lightning strike were immediately gathered and secured by workers at the Colosseum Archeological Park, officials said. The extent of the damage was being evaluated.

“The recovery work by technicians was timely. Our workers arrived immediately after the lightning strike. All of the fragments were recovered and secured,’’ the park said in a statement.

The lightning occurred during a storm that felled trees and flooded streets in the Italian capital.

The honorary arch, more than 20 meters (nearly 70 feet) in height, was erected in 315 A.D. to celebrate the victory of Emperor Constantine over Maxentius following the battle at Milvian Bridge.

Workers on site with cranes gather up fragments and secure broken areas of the 315 A.D Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum, in Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, after lightning struck it during a storm Tuesday, Sept. 3, loosening fragments from the ancient Roman structure. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A tourist takes photos of the 315 A.D Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum, in Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, as workers on site with cranes gather up fragments and secure broken areas of the arch after lightning struck it during a storm Tuesday, Sept. 3, loosening fragments from the ancient Roman structure. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE -A view the Arch of Constantine, and the Colosseum, background right, on the occasion of the unveiling of new lightning, in Rome, July 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File)

Michael Psaros, Dean Spanos Among Diaspora Hellenes Featured on New Greek Stamps

ATHENS – The Hellenic Post (ELTA) and the International Foundation for Greece (IFG) presented the latest issues of the Commemorative Stamp Series ‘Distinguished Greek Personalities – IFG’ at a press conference on October 14 at the Dimitrios Pandermalis amphitheater of the Acropolis Museum.

Israeli Strike on Hospital Tent Camp Kills 4 and Ignites a Fire that Burns Dozens

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a hospital courtyard in the Gaza Strip early Monday killed at least four people and triggered a fire that swept through a tent camp for people displaced by the war, leaving more than two dozen with severe burns, according to Palestinian medics.

WORLD