Italy OKs urgent work on danger areas in ancient Pompeii after rain-caused collapse of ruins

Bricks and rocks are seen on the ground after a section of wall around an ancient shop collapsed in Pompeii as a consequence of a rainstorm, Monday, March 3, 2014. Pompeii's archaeological office said Monday a section of the recently restored wall had collapsed. The damage is in an area long closed to the public, at the edge of the excavations of the ancient Roman city. Officials said inadequate drainage in the unexcavated part is particularly worrisome. Rains lashing the Naples area recently were also blamed for damage discovered Sunday in other parts of Pompeii. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta) (The Associated Press)

Bricks and rocks are seen on the ground after a section of wall around an ancient shop collapsed in Pompeii as a consequence of a rainstorm, Monday, March 3, 2014. Pompeii's archaeological office said Monday a section of the recently restored wall had collapsed. The damage is in an area long closed to the public, at the edge of the excavations of the ancient Roman city. Officials said inadequate drainage in the unexcavated part is particularly worrisome. Rains lashing the Naples area recently were also blamed for damage discovered Sunday in other parts of Pompeii. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta) (The Associated Press)

Bricks and rocks are seen on the ground after, according to Italian media, they collapsed from the Porta Nocera doorway, in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, as a consequence of a rainstorm, Sunday, March 2, 2014. Top Italian culture officials are calling for swift action to save Pompeii, the ancient Roman city encased in volcanic ash, from further ruin after heavy rains, Saturday, March 1, reportedly caused part of a wall to collapse. Giancarlo Galan, the head of a parliamentary culture commission lamented the latest collapse at the archaeological site near Naples. (APhoto/Salvatore La Porta) (The Associated Press)

Citing "utmost urgency," Italy has approved work to repair walls in ancient Pompeii that collapsed after heavy rains, and authorized spending 2 million euros ($2.7 million) on routine maintenance.

The decisions were made Tuesday in Rome after a hastily convened meeting of the culture minister with archaeological experts. On Sunday, stones from an arch and a stretch of wall collapsed in the popular tourist site. On Monday, a wall of an ancient shop collapsed.

Similar collapses in recent years have prompted an infusion of funds, but only a fraction of the 105 million euros ($145 million) earmarked for the "Great Pompeii" rehabilitation project has been spent. Bureaucracy is blamed in part.

Italy's culture ministry said Tuesday priority will also be given to work to reduce flood risk in unexcavated areas.