In the night between 15 and 16 July a significant portion of the central structure of the Palace of Justice in Bolzano collapsed. The failure, reported to the fire brigade around 6.24 AM, affected at least a quarter of the building, a structure dating back to the Ventennio period. Renovation and expansion works were underway at the time of the collapse.

The failure involved the central part of the structure, causing the destruction of several courtrooms and offices. The main courtroom of the Corte d'Assise and the two civil hearing rooms on the third floor were completely destroyed. The connecting passage between the Prosecutor's office and the Tribunal also collapsed. The central part of the building is completely unusable. The external columns of the building did not give way, and the fourth floor with offices on the sides of Via Duca d'Aosta and Corso Italia remained intact.

According to accounts, cleaning staff were present inside the building at the time of the collapse, working in the lateral areas. Sources agree that one person was slightly injured by debris and exited the building independently. The exact number of people present varies across sources: some indicate three people, others up to seven.

Residents in surrounding buildings described a roar perceived as an earthquake, followed by a cloud of dust. Debris fell in the area of the main entrance and on the building's staircase. Firefighters, law enforcement, and health personnel responded to the scene. Securing operations began immediately, and in the afternoon work started with excavators to remove debris and demolish dangerous portions of the roof.

Technical inspections are underway to rule out further failures. The underground parking at Piazza Tribunale was closed, while Largo Falcone e Borsellino remained accessible. The president of the Bolzano tribunal, Francesca Bortolotti, stated that the collapse could have had far more serious consequences had it occurred during court session hours. The prosecutor indicated the need to redistribute the workforce. The causes of the collapse are still under investigation.

The National Association of Magistrates raised concerns regarding the conditions of judicial buildings, citing a lack of government response on the issue. This statement should be read within the context of the ongoing debate on the conditions of public buildings serving judicial functions.