Turkey wildfires: Dardanelles Strait closes, northwestern villages evacuated

An ongoing forest fire sparked in Turkey’s Çanakkale region on Tuesday forced the evacuation of thousands across multiple villages, as well as the temporary closure of the Dardanelles Strait.

The Dardanelles Strait is a long, narrow shipping passageway connecting the Black Sea with the Aegean Sea.

Eight aircraft, 26 helicopters, 180 water-tenders and approximately 1,100 firefighters were sent to combat the fire and help those in need, authorities said.

Incredibly hot temperatures and strong wind kept the fires going overnight and into Wednesday, affecting a 1,500-hectare area.

As of Wednesday, approximately 1,200 citizens had been safely evacuated, with at least 48 requiring medical aid.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9912670/greece-wildfires-deaths/

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