The collapse happened at 3.15pm, with witnesses describing a loud noise and a huge cloud of dust.
A rock spire collapse in Turkey’s Unesco-listed Cappadocia region has resulted in the deaths of three people, including a foreign national, according to officials. The incident occurred after a landslide triggered by heavy rain caused the rock spire to collapse in the town of Goreme near the open-air museum.
The collapse happened at 3.15pm, with witnesses describing a loud noise and a huge cloud of dust. Rescue teams pulled another body from the rubble, bringing the death toll to three, Nevsehir Governor Huseyin Kok said. One of those killed was a foreign national, while the other two were Turkish.
The area was closed to the public after the collapse, and rescuers and excavators operated through the night under powerful floodlights before concluding the operation. An investigation by the chief prosecutor’s office, together with expert assessments, will begin on Friday, Governor Kok said.
Turkey’s culture and tourism ministry has launched restoration work in the region to help preserve the fragile rock formations from climate-related damage, natural erosion, and human activity. The Cappadocia region is a popular tourist destination, with 4.5 million domestic and foreign tourists visiting in 2025, according to tourism ministry figures.
The region is home to unique cone-shaped rock formations known as “fairy chimneys”, created by ancient volcanic activity, as well as rock-carved underground cities and early Christian churches. The collapse highlights the need for continued preservation efforts to protect the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
