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Dramatic footage has been released showing the moment three ski jumps collapsed at a supposedly state-of-the-art holiday resort in Turkey.

The video shows dust billowing up as the structure gives way at the £19 million Palandöken ski resort, which was built in the city of Erzurum for the 2011 Winter Universiade.

Investigators who attended the site blamed errors made during the construction work, after finding evidence of negligence and basic engineering faults.

Aftermath: The multi-million pound ski resort was left in ruins after the collapse

The facility, which is the country's first and only ski jump, is located at the base of the Palandöken Mountain and had been promoted as a centre to help train a new generation of Turkish winter sports stars.

But three of the five towers at the facility gave way dramatically after developing large cracks in their walls. They ranged from 20 to 60 metres tall.

The other two towers, which measure 95 and 125 metres, also developed cracks making them completely unusable.

Heavy rain in the region appears to have accelerated the collapse of the slopes.

The site also includes a hotel and a cafe, which is located at the top of the 125-metre tower and receives around 200 tourists per day.

 

Spectacular moment when state-of-the-art ski jump area collapsed

Caught on camera: Passers-by stopped to film the collapse which luckily took place after an evacuation

The complex was built by Turkish construction firm Saridaglar Insaat as part of a multi-million pound high-profile PR exercise, and had been inaugurated in 2011 by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It was Turkey's first ski jump tower facility and it was hoped that it would one day help to bring the Winter Olympics to the country.

Turkey's national team were also using the centre to prepare for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in China's PyeongChang.

Luckily, no-one was hurt as staff at the complex had alerted authorities about the cracks in the towers a few weeks before their collapse.

An evacuation took place and the Turkish national team ski jump team were sent home while checks were carried out.

Negligence: Investigators blamed errors made during the construction of the ski resort

Major fault: Video shows dust billowing up as the structure gives way at the £19 million ski resort

Embarrassment: The complex was built as part of a multi-million pound high-profile PR exercise

Erol Mehmet Yarar, head of the Turkish Skiing Federation, said: 'Initial findings are that the builders used only a single metre of steel piles (which provide the foundation) in the towers' foundation which was a major mistake, as a 50 metre long steel pile was pre-specified in the architect's plans.

'International standards require at least 25 metre deep piles for the towers of the size of those that collapsed.

'Given that the whole complex was built in an area prone to earthquakes makes this oversight a major error.'

The full report is expected in two months after which Erzurum Public Prosecutor's Office will make a decision on whether to bring about any charges.

Saridaglar Insaat had also built several other sporting venues across the country, along with an airport in the eastern province of Bingol.

The company refused to comment, saying that the investigation was still ongoing.