Wildfire halts vessel traffic through Dardanelles

The vessel traffic in the Dardanelles has been temporary suspended in the north to south direction due to a forest fire, the Turkey’s Directorate-General of Coastal Safety reported.

"The ship traffic through the Dardanelles has been suspended from north to south due to a forest fire in the Akbas area," the statement reads.

The navigation northward continues so far without restrictions.

The traffic suspension in the strait is associated in particular with the need to ensure free operation of firefighting aircraft that are taking up water there to extinguish the fire.