The Italian government will set up a task force to protect the important Roman ruined city of Pompeii, after two collapses raised concerns over its preservation, the culture ministry said Thursday.
The government task force will comprise archaeologists, architects and specialist craftsmen to carry out any necessary work, the ministry said in a statement.
Maintenance will be stepped up, and the government will work with local authorities to improve the use of European Union conservation funds, the statement said.
On Tuesday, a 12-metre-long (40-foot) wall collapsed, with experts blaming persistent heavy rain. It was the second collapse in the month, after the House of the Gladiators on November 6.
Once a bustling city, Pompeii was entombed by the massive eruption of the nearby Mount Vesuvius volcano in AD 79, but was partly excavated and attracts thousands of visitors every year to one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the world.
In July 2008 Italy declared a "state of emergency" for Pompeii, saying it had fallen into serious disrepair.
Source: AFP [December 02, 2010]