The key facts
- A rock collapsed at the entrance to the Göreme museum in Cappadocia, killing two people; one injured person was hospitalized
- According to local media, the cause was heavy rainfall
- Hot air balloon flights were canceled on October 29 and 30
Rock collapse near the Göreme museum
On October 29, in Turkey's Cappadocia, a rock formation known as a fairy chimney collapsed at the entrance to the Göreme Open Air Museum. This was reported by the Turkish outlet CNN Türk, and the news was also covered by BBC News. According to Gazeta , citing CNN Türk, heavy rains caused pieces of rock to break off and fall onto an area where people were present.
Victims and rescue operation
The bodies of two victims were found under the rubble, and one injured person was hospitalized. Rescuers continue searching for people who may still be under the debris. There is no information yet about the victims' citizenship. BBC notes that the cause of the incident had not been established at the time of publication, but local media reported heavy rainfall in the region; ambulances and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.
Consequences for tourists
Due to rain and strong winds, hot air balloon flights — one of the region's main tourist attractions — were canceled in Cappadocia on October 29 and 30. Cappadocia is a historical region in central Turkey known for its rock formations and ancient underground cities; the region is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.
Image source, Getty Images Cappadocia is a popular tourist destination known for its distinctive rock formations, known as fairy chimneys (file image)
