Reports: Part of the ceiling of Nero’s Golden Palace collapses in Rome; no injuries reported

Reports: part of ceiling of Nero palace collapses

ROME — Italian news reports say that part of the ceiling of Nero’s Golden Palace in Rome has collapsed.

There were no early reports of injured people after the collapse Tuesday morning, according to the ANSA and Apcom news agencies.

Built by Roman emperor Nero in the first century A.D., the sumptuous palace is known to many by its Latin name Domus Aurea. The monument has been plagued by structural problems and humidity that threaten its frescoed halls.

It reopened in June 1999 following 18 years of closure due to worries about structural soundness. It has since become one of the capital’s most popular tourist draws.