NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
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.
TEEN DIES AFTER FALLING FROM MOVING CARNIVAL RIDE AS QUESTIONS MOUNT OVER SAFETY
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.
TOURIST DANGLES 23 STORIES ABOVE STREET IN ‘RECKLESS’ DAREDEVIL STUNT
“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.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
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.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
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.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
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.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed reporting.