Rock spire collapse in Cappadocia leaves three dead
A section of a fairy chimney rock formation collapsed in the Goreme area of Cappadocia, Turkey, on Thursday at about 3:15 pm local time, killing three people, officials say. Two deaths were first reported, and a third body was later recovered from the rubble, according to Nevsehir Governor Huseyin Kok. Five people were injured. Heavy rain triggered a landslide that caused the collapse near a parking lot at the site entrance, close to the Goreme Open Air Museum. The area was closed to the public, and rescue teams searched through the night under floodlights. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said an investigation has been launched.
Key facts
- Two of the three dead were Turkish nationals; one was a foreign national.
- Goreme National Park and Rock Sites of Cappadocia were listed by UNESCO in 1985.
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Why it matters
The collapse highlights the risk heavy rain poses to fragile rock formations at a UNESCO World Heritage site.
What changed
First published from BBC News, Dawn, The Straits Times, Al-Monitor and ABC News (US)