A Japanese tourist lost his life after falling from the perimeter wall of Rome’s ancient Pantheon late Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025, in a fatal accident that has prompted an investigation by local authorities. Morimasa Hibino, 69, plummeted approximately seven meters—roughly 23 feet—into a ditch below street level while visiting one of Italy’s most iconic historical monuments.
The incident occurred at around 9:50 p.m. local time on Via della Palombella, where the monument’s outer wall sits elevated above an ancient passageway. A passing priest discovered Hibino lying in the ditch and immediately alerted emergency services. The area where he was found sits at the original street level of ancient Rome, which rests approximately 23 feet below the modern city’s surface, making many of the city’s ancient monuments appear sunken.
Emergency responders, including firefighters, medical personnel, and police officers, faced initial difficulty accessing the site. According to CNN, authorities had to force open a locked gate to reach Hibino. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hibino had been traveling through Rome with his daughter at the time of the accident. She told investigators that her father had been sitting on the perimeter wall when he suddenly felt dizzy, causing him to lose his balance and fall face-first into the ditch below. Initial police findings corroborate this account, suggesting he suffered from a sudden illness that led to the fatal tumble.
Surveillance cameras positioned near the scene captured footage of the incident. The video reportedly shows Hibino sitting alone on the wall’s edge before he slipped and fell. Investigators are currently reviewing this footage as part of their examination into the circumstances surrounding his death. A spokesperson for Rome police confirmed that no foul play is suspected in the case.
The Pantheon was constructed by Roman Emperor Hadrian on the site of an earlier temple built by Marcus Agrippa, and was later converted into a Catholic church. It draws millions of visitors annually. The monument is famous for its distinctive oculus—the circular opening at the apex of its massive dome. The site remained closed at the time of the accident, though the outer wall along Via della Palombella remains accessible to pedestrians throughout the evening hours.
The perimeter wall where Hibino fell has become a popular spot for tourists seeking respite from sightseeing or hoping to capture photographs of the historic structure. Local police regularly patrol the area specifically to prevent visitors from crossing over the protective barrier, as incidents involving people entering the restricted ditch area have occurred sporadically over the years.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, Rome has experienced a substantial surge in tourism. The city welcomed a record 22.2 million arrivals in 2024, marking the highest number of visitors in its history. The Pantheon itself attracted more than four million visitors last year, making it one of Italy’s most frequented attractions. Long queues regularly form in Piazza della Rotonda outside the monument’s entrance.
The site introduced a ticketing system in 2023, ending its tradition of free admission. The five-euro entrance fee sparked controversy among preservation advocates and tourists alike, though the policy change did nothing to diminish visitor numbers. The revenue generated helps fund ongoing conservation efforts for the nearly 2,000-year-old structure.
This marks another tourist death at a major Roman landmark in 2025. In March, a 55-year-old woman from Spain died after falling from a high wall adjacent to the Spanish Steps, another prominent tourist destination in the city’s historic center.
The Japanese embassy in Rome has been notified of Hibino’s death and is providing consular assistance. Roman authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances of the fall, though preliminary findings point to the sudden medical episode described by his daughter as the primary cause. The investigation remains open as officials compile evidence and review surveillance footage from the scene.