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The Dardanelles Strait has been closed to maritime traffic temporarily from north to south as a large forest fire continued to spread near the northwestern Turkish city of Canakkale, Türkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry confirmed Friday.
The closure was implemented to allow firefighting aircraft and helicopters to access water from the strait without interference, according to information obtained from the field. Maritime authorities are directing vessels transiting through the strait in a controlled manner to ensure navigational safety during emergency operations.
The Dardanelles Strait is a key international waterway connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, making it a vital passage for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia.
The fire began around 1:30 p.m. local time (GMT+3) in a farmland located in the central district of Canakkale province. Fanned by strong winds, the flames quickly spread to surrounding forested areas, reaching close proximity to residential zones and a state hospital.
Firefighting teams are battling the blaze both from the ground and the air, using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to douse the flames.
Despite the fire’s rapid spread, there is currently no threat to the city center, Canakkale Governor Omer Toraman said. He noted that a residential complex experienced minor flame encroachment in its garden area, but the fire had not reached urban zones.
So far, no evacuations have been ordered, however, authorities have evacuated a private elderly care facility in the same area, he added.
“Efforts continue intensively both from the air and the ground to extinguish the fire,” he told state-run media.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation.
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