Wildfires Prompt Closure of Dardanelles Strait in Turkey

Authorities in Turkey have temporarily closed the Dardanelles Strait, a vital maritime route connecting Europe and Asia, due to major forest fires in north-west Turkey. The transport ministry confirmed this decision as a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring safety, particularly near the city of Canakkale which has seen evacuations. Firefighters, including aerial units, are actively working to manage the wildfires. The Dardanelles, alongside the Bosporus Strait, is integral to international shipping, underscoring the implications of the current environmental crisis.

The Dardanelles Strait has been temporarily shut to maritime traffic due to large forest fires raging in north-western Turkey, the country's transport ministry has said. The major international waterway was shut as a precautionary measure, it said, as the blazes spread near the city of Canakkale, where a number of residents have been evacuated. Turkish firefighters have been deployed to try to contain the fires. Specialist firefighting planes and helicopters are also in use. The Dardanelles links the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Together with the Bosporus Strait, it serves as a vital route for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia.