Two dead in rock spire collapse at tourist site in Turkey's Cappadocia: official - IOL

A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall caused a rock spire to collapse in Turkey's Cappadocia tourist region on Thursday.

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 (1215 GMT) when a landslide triggered a rockfall in the town of Goreme near the open-air museum, Kok said.

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.