Maritime traffic through Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait was halted on Sunday morning due to severe fog conditions reducing visibility to less than half a mile.

The Istanbul Port Directorate of the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry announced that all vessel passages through the critical waterway were suspended starting at 10:28 a.m. local time. The decision was made to ensure the safety of navigation through this important international maritime route.

The Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and serves as a key passage for ships traveling between Europe and Asia, sees thousands of vessels annually. The closure affects not only local shipping but also international trade routes.

Authorities have not yet provided an estimate on when the strait might reopen, as the fog's duration remains unpredictable. Mariners and shipping companies are advised to monitor further announcements from the port authority for updates on when normal traffic might resume. (ILKHA)