Three Killed and Five Injured in Rock Collapse at Turkey's Cappadocia
At least three people died and five were injured after a rock formation collapsed at the UNESCO-listed Göreme National Park in Turkey's Cappadocia region during Republic Day celebrations.
At least three people were killed and five others injured on Thursday when a rock formation collapsed at the Göreme National Park, a popular UNESCO World Heritage site in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time. According to Nevşehir Governor Hüseyin Çok, the collapse was triggered by a landslide that caused one of the iconic "fairy chimney" rock formations to give way, burying visitors beneath the rubble. Heavy machinery and rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the scene, continuing their search operations into the night while periodically asking onlookers for silence to listen for survivors.
Turkish authorities confirmed that all victims of the disaster are Turkish citizens. The collapse coincided with Republic Day celebrations in Turkey, a period when the tourist hotspot draws heavy crowds. Cappadocia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, attracts approximately 4.5 million visitors annually and generates $2.5 billion in revenue, famed for its ancient underground cities and hot air balloon rides.
Despite its immense global popularity, conservationists and UNESCO have frequently raised concerns regarding structural stability, overtourism, and environmental pressures at the site. A similar rockslide occurred at the park in 2024, though it resulted in no casualties.
