Lightning has damaged a 1,700-year-old arch near Rome’s Colosseum sending blocks of marble plummeting to the ground.

A violent thunderstorm on Tuesday loosened pieces from the Arch of Constantine, an ancient structure around 20m (70ft) high.

Workers from the Colosseum Archaeological Park in Rome were seen recovering blocks of fallen masonry on Wednesday.

In a statement, the organisation said: “The recovery work by technicians was timely. Our workers arrived immediately after the lightning strike. All of the fragments were recovered and secured.”

Staff were also lifted by a crane on to the top of the arch to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Read more from Sky News:
12 dead after migrant boat sinks in Channel
UK and US split over arms sales to Israel
Surprising new craze in Spanish supermarkets

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Storm brought down trees and flooded streets

The structure was erected in 315AD to celebrate the victory of Emperor Constantine over Maxentius following the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

The same lightning storm which caused the damage also brought down trees and flooded streets in the Italian capital.

Related posts:

Two-year-old among more than 40 people killed in floods and landslides in Indonesia and East Timor ‘So grateful’: Lionel Messi in tears as he bids farewell to Barcelona ‘We will be killed’: At least 400 UK-trained Afghan special forces troops hiding from Taliban Indonesia eruption death toll rises to 34 as president vows to rebuild Kim Jong Un observes test of new ‘tactical weapon’ Renewable energy offset global rise in fossil fuel use in first half of 2022 Mystery objects shot down by US were ‘probably benign’ Driver was going ‘too quick’ in fatal wedding bus crash At least 28 dead after boat carrying mostly women and children capsizes in Nigeria ‘Jarring and disorienting’: Passenger relives ordeal after side of plane ripped off during flight Dozens detained at rally involving wives of Russian soldiers Key members of Mike Lynch’s legal success now centre of tragedy after superyacht sinking