Ship movement in the Dardanelles, which had been halted temporarily due to large forest fires in northwest Turkey, has resumed in one direction for now. State broadcaster TRT News cited a statement from İbrahim Yumaklı, the head of Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, noting that the strait’s traffic has reopened on a unilateral basis. The clarification underscores that the channel reported a single-way opening rather than a full restoration of all maritime passages at this time.
According to TRT News, the current reopening pertains specifically to ships traveling from the Aegean Sea toward the Marmara Sea, while ongoing caution remains in the other direction. This restraint reflects safety considerations linked to active fire suppression and the surrounding conditions near the strait. Local authorities have emphasized that the situation is being monitored closely as firefighting efforts continue along the coastline and inland zones.
Earlier communications from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure stated that the Dardanelles had been closed to Marmara-bound vessels due to the forest fires, with responders focusing their operations in the Çanakkale-Kepez region. The decision was framed as a precaution to protect ships and crews from smoke, heat, and reduced visibility while firefighting underway nearby.
Previously, Yumaklı had remarked on the severity of the large fire burning in Çanakkale Province. Officials indicated that the situation remained fluid and that authorities were preparing for the worst-case scenarios should the fire spread or intensify. The remarks highlighted the exceptional challenges faced by emergency services and the potential implications for maritime routes and regional safety until containment could be assured.
Meanwhile, Istanbul authorities urged residents to conserve water as drought risks persisted. Public advisories stressed prudent water use in daily activities and stressed that water supplies should be reserved for essential needs while meteorological conditions and reservoir levels remained under observation by city planners and emergency managers.