Naples – Moments of fear this afternoon at the University of Naples Federico II, where a portion of the attic collapsed in a classroom on the campus Piazzale Tecchio, in Fuorigrotta. The accident occurred around 15 pm, in the Drawing Room, on the first floor of the building, while an exam was in progress.
According to the students present, the first signs of the collapse were felt a few minutes after the start of the test. “A colleague of mine started running after hearing a creaking sound,” says an Engineering student. “Behind her was another girl in a wheelchair, who feared she wouldn’t be able to move. Shortly after, we saw white dust falling from the ceiling, then the sudden collapse, with debris everywhere.”
Fortunately, no one was injured, although a student who was at the exact point of collapse was struck by a severe state of shock. The classroom was evacuated immediately, while the rest of the structure remained accessible.
Professor Andrea Prota, president of the Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School of Federico II, confirmed the closure of the classroom, explaining that technical inspections and safety measures will begin tomorrow. “A portion of the floor has collapsed,” Prota said. “A phenomenon attributable to humidity and water infiltration, which in 'SAP'-type floors from the 1960s lead to corrosion of the reinforcing bars and the resulting structural failure.”
The episode reignites the debate on the conditions of university buildings and the need for maintenance interventions to ensure the safety of students
Article published on March 11, 2025 - 19pm
It is a very worrying event what happened at the university, but it is also true that more attention should have been paid to the conditions of the buildings. We hope that after this situation the issue of safety will finally be taken seriously.