Rock Collapse in Turkey Kills Three
Security footage shows the moment a massive rock formation gave way at the UNESCO World Heritage site near Göreme, killing two Turkish citizens and a foreign tourist and injuring five others
Security camera footage released overnight from Turkey shows the moment a massive rock pillar collapsed at the famed Cappadocia tourist site, an incident that killed three people and injured five others.
The collapse occurred last Thursday near the entrance to the open-air museum in the town of Göreme in Nevşehir Province. The footage shows enormous chunks of rock suddenly breaking away from the distinctive rock formation and plunging with force toward the area below, as a large cloud of dust rises and covers the scene.
According to reports, the collapse followed heavy rains in the area that triggered the rockfall. Rescue teams were called to the site and began clearing the debris with heavy mechanical equipment. Three people were killed, two Turkish citizens and a foreign tourist, and five others were injured and evacuated for medical treatment.
The disaster occurred in an area known for rock formations called "fairy chimneys," natural stone pillars formed over millions of years by volcanic activity and erosion. Cappadocia is considered one of Turkey's premier tourist destinations and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
Following the incident, the area was closed to visitors, and Turkish authorities opened an investigation into the circumstances of the collapse.