The Dardanelles Strait has been temporarily shut to maritime traffic due to forest fires raging in north-western Turkey, the country's transport ministry has said.
The major international waterway was shut as a precautionary measure as the blazes spread near the city of Canakkale where a number of residents were evacuated.
Turkish firefighters have been deployed to try to contain the fires. Specialist firefighting planes and helicopters are also in use.
The Dardanelles links the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Together with the Bosporus Strait, it serves as a vital route for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia.
Nearly 46,000 vessels crossed the Dardanelles in 2024, according to official data.
