Wildfires force Turkey to shut Dardanelles Strait to shipping

The country’s Ministry of Transport said that the Darndanel Strait has been temporarily closed to the marine traffic due to borrowed forest fires in northwestern Türkiye.

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

Turkish firefighters were deployed to try to contain fires. Specialized aircraft to combat fire and helicopters are also used.

Dardanelles connects the Aegean Sea Marra. Along with the Busporos Strait, it is a vital way for commercial charging between Europe and Asia.

About 46,000 Dardanelles ships in 2024, according to official data.

Local officials said the strong winds had tightened forest fires, which helped them spread in hot dry weather. The governor of Kanakali Province – quoted in Turki today, Friday, said the efforts made to extinguish the fire from “air and land” were ongoing.

The main Canakkale Airport is closed for passenger flights, but fire, search and rescue aircraft are still operating from there.

Hundreds of forest fires erupted across Türkiye this summer, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

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