The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye has announced that the movement of ships in the Canakkale Strait in the south-north direction has been temporarily suspended due to a forest fire in the Canakkale-Kepez area, Turanews.kz reports.
The ministry said that traffic has been turned from two directions into one, and that the tugs of the Main Directorate of Coastal Security are on full alert for possible intervention in the event that the fire engulfs the sea coast.
The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon and has been burning for several hours. It has not yet been brought under control, and authorities have evacuated several villages in the area.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but authorities have said that it is likely due to the hot and dry weather conditions that have been prevailing in the region.
The suspension of shipping traffic in the Canakkale Strait is expected to cause some delays for ships traveling between the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. However, the ministry said that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of ships and passengers.
The ministry has also warned residents of the area to be careful and to avoid going near the fire.
The fire is the latest in a series of wildfires that have hit Türkiye in recent months. In July, wildfires broke out in several provinces, including Antalya, Mugla, and Aydin. The fires caused widespread damage and displaced thousands of people.
The Turkish government have said that they are working to improve forest management and fire prevention measures.
