Cappadocia rock collapse kills two at Göreme museum, Turkey
Two people died and five were injured when a fairy chimney rock formation collapsed at the Göreme open-air museum in Turkey's Cappadocia region, local media reports.
At a glance
- Two people were killed and five injured when a rock formation collapsed at the Göreme open-air museum in Cappadocia, Turkey.
- Nevşehir Governor Hüseyin Kök said the victims' bodies were recovered from under the rubble.
- Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said search and rescue was continuing and warned of other possible victims trapped.
At least two people have been killed and five injured after a rock formation collapsed at a tourist site in Turkey's historical region of Cappadocia, according to local media reports.
One of the area's rock spires, known as fairy chimneys, reportedly disintegrated at the popular open-air museum in the central town of Göreme. Turkish media said the collapse happened near the museum entrance, a Unesco World Heritage site, at about 15:15 local time (12:15 GMT) on Thursday.
Nevşehir provincial Governor Hüseyin Kök said the victims' bodies had been recovered from under the rubble. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek later said in a social media post that "according to initial assessments, two individuals have lost their lives in the incident, and five others have been injured".
Search and rescue continues
Gürlek added that a search and rescue operation was continuing at the site. He also warned there could be "other potential victims" still trapped. The justice minister did not give further details on those unaccounted for.
The cause of Thursday's incident was not immediately known. However, local media reported the collapse could have been triggered by heavy rain.
A global tourist draw
Cappadocia attracts visitors from around the world who come to see the ancient fairy chimneys, tall, cone-shaped rock formations created by volcanic activity. The Göreme open-air museum, where the collapse took place, is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site and is one of the region's best-known attractions.
No further information has been released about the identities of the dead or injured, or about how many people were at the site when the rock formation gave way.
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- What happened in Cappadocia, Turkey?
- A fairy chimney rock formation collapsed at the Göreme open-air museum on Thursday at about 15:15 local time, killing two people and injuring five, according to local media and Turkish officials.
- What caused the Cappadocia rock collapse?
- The cause was not immediately known, but local media reported the collapse could have been triggered by heavy rain.
- Where is Göreme and why is it famous?
- Göreme is a central town in Turkey's Cappadocia region. Its open-air museum, a Unesco World Heritage site, is known for the cone-shaped fairy chimneys formed by volcanic activity.
