Two dead after fairy chimney collapse at Cappadocia museum, Turkish media report

Two people have died and five were injured when a rock spire collapsed at the Göreme open-air museum in Turkey's Cappadocia region, according to local media reports.

The formation, one of the cone-shaped structures known as fairy chimneys, broke apart near the museum entrance at around 15:15 local time on Thursday.

Nevşehir provincial Governor Hüseyin Kök said the victims' bodies had been recovered from the rubble, while Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said in a social media post that initial assessments put the toll at two dead and five injured, with search and rescue work continuing. Gürlek also warned there could be other potential victims still trapped.

The cause was not immediately known, though local media reported the collapse may have been triggered by heavy rain. Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, formed by volcanic activity, draw visitors from around the world.