3 killed, 5 injured at popular tourist hot spot after rocks suddenly tumble down

At least three people were killed at Cappadocia, a popular tourist destination in central Turkey, when a rockfall occurred Thursday, officials said.

The rockfall took place at around 3:15 p.m. local time that day, according to Reuters.

After the area experienced heavy rain, the rockfall came from a volcanic geological formation called a “fairy chimney,” the same source said.

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The name comes from the tall, narrow, often cone-shaped rock formations that resemble chimneys, with the “fairy” reference tied to local folklore.

Rock fragments from the fairy chimney broke off and fell onto people near the Goreme Open-Air Museum, Nevsehir Gov. Huseyin Kok told reporters.

At least three people were killed, and five others were injured after a rockfall struck Cappadocia, a popular open-air tourist destination in central Turkey. (Ihlas News Agency via Reuters)

Three people died and five were injured, according to The Associated Press.

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“We hope that there are no other casualties,” Kok said, according to AP. 

“We are deeply saddened.”

The deadly rockfall occurred around 3:15 p.m. Thursday near the Goreme Open-Air Museum, pictured. (Sercan Ozkurnazli/dia images via Getty Images)

Kok said two of the three people killed were Turkish nationals but did not provide information about the third individual, the AP reported.

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It is unclear whether the dead and injured were tourists, employees or others.

Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys are tall, narrow, often cone-shaped rock formations that have become a defining feature of the popular tourist spot.  (DEA/L. Romano/De Agostini via Getty Images)

Rescue teams were searching through rubble at the rockfall, according to the governor.

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Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, southeast of the capital Ankara, is known for its distinctive fairy chimneys, cave dwellings and ancient rock-cut churches.

The tragedy follows other fatal accidents involving tourists at popular destinations this month.

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Earlier in October, a 55-year-old Brazilian tourist was fatally struck in the head by a piece of roofing material that blew off during strong winds while he was visiting Taliesin West, a historic Arizona landmark designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

A popular tourist destination in central Turkey, Cappadocia is a site known for its scenic hot air balloon rides and distinctive fairy chimney rock formations. (Zhou Zhiyong/VCG via Getty Images)

Also in October, a 36-year-old American tourist died after falling approximately 1,000 feet down a steep mountain slope in Italy’s Dolomites while vacationing with her family.

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Reuters and The Associated Press contributed reporting.