Collapse of top floors causes temporary closure of Rome's Teatro Olimpico.

Rome's Teatro Olimpico has been closed after the top three floors, above the entrance to the theatre's bar, collapsed on Friday 22 January. The theatre itself has not suffered any structural damage.

In a statement issued late on 26 January, Teatro Olimpico requested its spectators to be patient, stating that it will attempt to open as soon as possible and underlining that the theatre itself has not been damaged.

On its website the theatre points out that it is not under a legal sequestration order and that it will close only as long as it takes to clear all the rubble.

The fifth, sixth and seventh floors of the building on the corner of Piazza Gentile da Fabriano and Lungotevere Flaminio in the Flaminio district, collapsed at dawn on 22 January but not before the ten resident families were evacuated without injury.

A police investigation has been launched into the incident which may have been caused by recent construction works.

The theatre's closure has led to the cancellation of a number of shows, for full details see website.

Photo Corriere della Sera