Wildfires forced Turkey to close the Dardanelles Strait to Shipping

The Dardanelle conductor is temporarily closed to maritime traffic due to forest fires raging in northwestern Turkey, the country’s Ministry of Transport said.

The main international waterway was closed as a precautionary measure as the flames spread near the city of Canakkale, where a number of residents were evacuated.

Turkish firefighters are located to try to control the fires. Special planes and helicopters are also used.

The Dardanelles connect the Aegean to Marmara’s sea. Along with the Bosporus Strait, it serves as a vital route for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia.

Nearly 46,000 ships passed the Dardanelles in 2024, according to official data.

The strong winds blown away the fires, helping them spread in hot dry weather, local officials said. Efforts to burn flames from “Both Air and Earth” continue, Kanakkale’s provincial governor said on Friday – quoted in Turkic, “said on Friday.

Canakkale’s main airport is closed to passenger flights, but fire and rescue planes are still working.

Hundreds of fires erupted through Turkey this summer, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

In July, At least 10 forest and rescue workers were killed While fighting wild fires in the central province of Esksehir in the country.