Pregnant woman posing for camera falls off famous Butterfly Valley cliff

MUĞLA

A pregnant woman who was having her picture taken near the famous Butterfly Valley in the Fethiye district of the southwestern province of Muğla has fallen off a cliff and died, Doğan News Agency reported on June 19.

The 32-year-old woman, who was seven months pregnant, reportedly fell off the 300-meter-high cliff after losing her balance while her husband was taking a picture of her sitting on a popular photo spot.

When her husband called emergency services, teams from the Search and Rescue Association (AKUT), the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) were sent to the area, after which the woman was pronounced dead.

Surrounding Ölüdeniz located on Turkey’s famous, 500km Lycian Way and only accessible by water, the 86,000-square meter Butterfly Valley is home to roughly 100 species of butterflies, including the endemic orange, black and white Jersey Tiger.

A waterfall that cascades from the 350m-high back canyon wall eventually becomes a gentle river, watering the lavender-flowered native chaste trees: The butterflies’ natural habitat.

Once dubbed “untouched,” the valley has been becoming increasingly popular over the past decade.