ROME - A 2,000-year-old house in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was once used by gladiators to train before combat, collapsed Saturday, officials said.
The site was closed at the time and nobody was injured, but the collapse underscored a controversy over the poor state of Pompeii, one of Italy's main tourist attractions.
There was no official word on possible causes. News reports said water infiltration following heavy rains in the past days might be the cause.
The 430-square-foot space was used by gladiators to train before going to fight in a nearby amphitheater.
Pompeii was destroyed in A.D. 79 by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius that killed thousands and buried the city in volcanic ash.
