The Dardanelles Strait, a crucial international shipping corridor, has been closed to traffic due to severe wildfires threatening the vicinity.
Turkey Closes Dardanelles Strait Amid Ongoing Wildfires
Turkey Closes Dardanelles Strait Amid Ongoing Wildfires
Forest fires prompt evacuation and maritime traffic halt in a vital shipping route between Europe and Asia.
The Dardanelles Strait has been temporarily closed to maritime traffic as a result of fierce wildfires in northwestern Turkey, according to the nation's transport ministry. This critical waterway, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, was shut off as a preventive measure while firefighting efforts were underway near Canakkale, prompting the evacuation of local residents.
Firefighters are on the ground and in the sky, utilizing specialized planes and helicopters in their mission to contain the blazes. The Dardanelles Strait is an essential route for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia, with nearly 46,000 vessels reported to have navigated it in 2024, based on official statistics.
Local authorities indicated that strong winds and dry conditions have exacerbated the fire situation, aiding the flames' rapid spread. Canakkale's provincial governor, speaking to Turkiye Today, confirmed that operations to extinguish the fires are being conducted from both aerial and ground sources.
The main airport in Canakkale has halted passenger flights, although firefighting and rescue operations continue to be launched from the site. Wildfires have ravaged regions across Turkey this summer, displacing tens of thousands. In July alone, at least 10 forestry and rescue personnel lost their lives battling wildfires in the central province of Eskisehir.
As extreme heat lingers, wildfires continue to wreak havoc in Turkey and Greece.
Firefighters are on the ground and in the sky, utilizing specialized planes and helicopters in their mission to contain the blazes. The Dardanelles Strait is an essential route for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia, with nearly 46,000 vessels reported to have navigated it in 2024, based on official statistics.
Local authorities indicated that strong winds and dry conditions have exacerbated the fire situation, aiding the flames' rapid spread. Canakkale's provincial governor, speaking to Turkiye Today, confirmed that operations to extinguish the fires are being conducted from both aerial and ground sources.
The main airport in Canakkale has halted passenger flights, although firefighting and rescue operations continue to be launched from the site. Wildfires have ravaged regions across Turkey this summer, displacing tens of thousands. In July alone, at least 10 forestry and rescue personnel lost their lives battling wildfires in the central province of Eskisehir.
As extreme heat lingers, wildfires continue to wreak havoc in Turkey and Greece.
