Esenkiyi truck park rockslide, Hopa, Turkiye
What happened
At about 6am on 8 October 2026 large rock masses broke from the slope above the Esenkiyi truck park on the Black Sea coastal road in Hopa, Artvin, and fell onto parked vehicles. Eight trucks were damaged and a tanker overturned. After the first fall a 45-year-old driver who had moved his own vehicle to safety returned to help others and was killed by a second fall of rock. AFAD, the Hopa search and rescue team (HOPAK), fire, police, gendarmerie and medical teams responded. The event and the dust cloud were captured on the truck park's security cameras.
What reports confirm
- At about 06:00 on 8 Oct 2026 large rock masses broke from the slope onto parked vehicles at the Esenkiyi truck park on the Black Sea coastal road in Hopa; 8 trucks were damaged and a tanker overturned. (IHA)
- After the first fall a 45-year-old driver who had saved his own vehicle returned to help his friends and was killed on site by the second fall of rock. (IHA)
- AFAD, HOPAK (Hopa search and rescue), fire, police, gendarmerie and medical teams worked at the site; the events were captured on the truck park's security cameras. (IHA)
Cause: No cause published. No official investigation findings reported in the sources.
Likely mechanism, general engineering
General engineering, not a finding about this event
Rock slopes above parking and stopping areas are normally checked for loose blocks and either scaled, bolted or fenced; a second fall after a first failure is a known hazard, which is why rescue and recovery near a fresh rockfall is done under observation, not immediately