Crumbling Wall at Roman Forum Raises Safety Fears among Tourists

A stretch of wall in Rome´s ancient forum has collapsed, raising fears that much of the popular tourist site is potentially dangerous for visitors.

Around 50 feet of wall fell over in the early hours of Friday onto a walkway that leads to the famed Arch of Titus and the Coliseum.

Officials said if the 12-foot wall had collapsed during the forum´s opening hours, the path would have been packed with tourists.

Another section of wall collapsed nearby in 2003, but experts did not believe the latest damage zone had been at risk.

The forum was the center of political, commercial and religious life in ancient Rome. The vast, open-air site lies in the heart of modern-day Rome and draws huge crowds, but much of it is poorly preserved and gradually eroding.