01.11.2026 11:20
In the town of Göreme in Nevşehir, the moments when a huge rock mass breaking off from the fairy chimney at the entrance of the Open Air Museum collapsed were recorded second by second by the camera of a parked vehicle. In the disaster that occurred on October 29, Fatih Eray Tuna, who had married 4 months earlier, and Begüm Çetinkaya Tuna, as well as French tourist Cynthia Houpert, lost their lives, and 5 people were injured.
The moment a fairy chimney collapsed in Cappadocia was captured. In footage recorded by the camera of a parked car, it is seen that the dust cloud rising as rocks breaking off the fairy chimney hit the ground covers the surroundings within seconds.
HUGE ROCKS BROKE OFF IN AN INSTANT
The collapse, which occurred at the entrance of Göreme Open Air Museum on October 29 around 3:15 p.m., was recorded by the camera of a car parked in the area. The footage includes the moments when huge rock pieces suddenly broke loose and rolled down, and as they hit the ground, a large dust cloud rose.
3 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES, 5 PEOPLE WERE INJURED
Fatih Eray Tuna (31), his wife Begüm Çetinkaya Tuna (31), and French tourist Cynthia Francine Marie Madeleine Houpert (37), who were trapped under the rocks, lost their lives. Five people were also injured in the disaster. Four of the injured were discharged, while it was learned that the health condition of the 8-year-old French child, who is still undergoing treatment, is improving.
THEY HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR 4 MONTHS
It was learned that journalist Fatih Eray Tuna, who owns an internet news site in Sakarya, and his wife Begüm Çetinkaya Tuna, who works as a financial advisor, married on July 5 and were in Göreme on vacation. It was revealed that Fatih Eray Tuna survived under the rubble in the 1999 Marmara Earthquake.
THEY WERE BURIED IN SAKARYA
After autopsy procedures at the Nevşehir State Hospital morgue, the couple's bodies were handed over to their families. Sakarya Governor Rahmi Doğan and Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yusuf Alemdar also attended the ceremony held at Orhan Mosque in Adapazarı. Begüm Çetinkaya Tuna was buried in Kurtköy Neighborhood Cemetery in Sapanca, and Fatih Eray Tuna was buried in Geyve Central Cemetery. Cynthia Houpert's relatives are expected to come from France to receive her body.
5 EXPERTS WERE APPOINTED
Officials noted that the collapse occurred after excessive rainfall. Within the investigation launched by the Nevşehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 5 separate experts were appointed to examine the technical causes of the collapse and whether there was negligence in the incident. Nevşehir Governor Hüseyin Kök also stated that they expect the administrative and judicial investigations to clarify the incident.
While debris removal work continues in the area, security measures in the area have been raised to the highest level. The expert report is expected to shape the next stage of the judicial process.