Rock spire collapses at famous Turkish tourist spot, killing two

Published: 10:00 EDT, 29 October 2026 | Updated: 10:26 EDT, 29 October 2026 A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall caused a rock spire to collapse in Turkey's Cappadocia tourist region on Thursday, killing two people, the local governor said.'We have recovered the bodies of two people who lost their lives. One injured person was taken to hospital,' Nevsehir Governor Huseyin Kok said.The incident occurred at 3.15 pm local time when a landslide triggered a rockfall in the town of Goreme near the open-air museum, Kok said.A section of the rock formation - known as a fairy chimney - tumbled, prompting authorities to deploy medical and rescue teams. The area was closed to the public following the collapse, according to reports.Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud noise as the rock spire fell.'Our search and rescue operations at the scene are ongoing. The government is continuing its efforts at the scene with all available resources,' Kok said.Turkey's Cappadocia region, a magnet for tourists from around the world, is home to rock formations known as 'fairy chimneys', created by ancient volcanic activity.It is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site famed for its distinctive rock formations and ancient underground cities. It comes as the famous hot balloon tours in Cappadocia were cancelled this week because of extreme weather conditions including rainfall and strong winds. In 2024, a freak gust of wind in the area sent a giant hot air balloon packed with tourists straight into one of the fairy chimney rocks.A gust of wind blew the giant air balloon against the rocks as pilot Caner Uzun was trying to land opposite the Love Valley, according to local media. Footage showed the balloon deflating as emergency services rush to the scene to examine the passengers.Thankfully nobody was hurt in the rock landing. This is a breaking news story. More to follow.