Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Japanese Tourist Dies After Fall at Rome's Pantheon

10/25/2025

28 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Morimasa Hibino, a 69-year-old Japanese tourist, died after falling 7 meters from the Pantheon perimeter wall in Rome on October 24, marking the second tourist fatality in Rome this year after the Spanish Steps incident.
Witnesses, including a priest, alerted authorities after spotting him in a ditch below.
Hibino's daughter reported he fell due to a sudden illness.
Emergency services had to break down a gate to access the site.

History

Historical Context

In 2017, Italy's government tightened tourist safety regulations after a 30% rise in tourist injuries, including a fatal fall at the Spanish Steps. The tragic incident involving Morimasa Hibino at the Pantheon highlighted ongoing safety concerns in Rome, a city that attracted 9.4 million visitors that year, emphasizing the need for enhanced measures to protect tourists and prevent future accidents.

1 of 2

Story summary

Morimasa Hibino, a 69-year-old Japanese tourist, died after falling 7 meters from the Pantheon perimeter wall in Rome on October 24, marking the second tourist fatality in Rome this year after the Spanish Steps incident.
Witnesses, including a priest, alerted authorities after spotting him in a ditch below.
Hibino's daughter reported he fell due to a sudden illness.
Emergency services had to break down a gate to access the site.

1 / 2