Maritime traffic in the Dardanelles Straits was suspended this afternoon due to a forest fire raging in Turkey’s northwestern province, the Turkish Ministry of Transport announced.

“Marine traffic has been temporarily suspended in the south-north direction and has been limited to one route due to a forest fire in the Kepsez region,” the ministry said.

“Tugs are ready to intervene if the fire approaches the coastal front, providing additional support to the ongoing firefighting operations,” the ministry added.

The Tribeca shipping service stressed that “traffic in the Dardanelles was suspended in both directions at 18:45 today as firefighting aircraft operating in the area pump water from the sea.”

Nine villages, as well as a university campus, were evacuated in the area, the provincial governor announced.

More than 420 firefighters are working to bring the fire under control with the help of ten firefighting aircraft, the Turkish Disaster Management Agency (AFAD) said.

Images broadcast by Turkish media showed flames approaching urban areas with gray and orange smoke covering the sky.

The highway between Canakkale and Chan, 70 km southeast of the provincial capital, is also closed, authorities said.