Raging wildfires prompt Türkiye to close Dardanelles Strait for safety

Shipping traffic through the strategically vital Dardanelles Strait in Türkiye has been temporarily halted in both directions due to the outbreak of wildfires in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, the Turkish Ministry of Transport’s Maritime Affairs Department announced.

“Shipping in the Dardanelles has been temporarily suspended in both directions due to wildfires in the province of Çanakkale,” the ministry’s statement read, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

One of the fires reportedly began near the village of Saricaeli and rapidly intensified under the influence of strong winds. The blaze quickly spread across a wide area, engulfing agricultural land and advancing dangerously close to the village itself.

Firefighting operations are currently underway both on the ground and from the air, as emergency crews battle to contain the flames. Dense smoke from the fire has drifted across the Dardanelles, significantly reducing visibility and prompting maritime authorities to close the waterway for safety reasons.

The Dardanelles Strait is a critical maritime corridor linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and ultimately to the Black Sea via the Bosphorus. It is one of the busiest and most geopolitically significant shipping routes in the region, serving as a major passage for both commercial vessels and naval traffic.

By Vafa Guliyeva