UPDATE - Maritime traffic in Istanbul Strait back to normal after heavy fog

UPDATES WITH OPENING OF ISTANBUL STRAIT TO MARITIME TRAFFIC; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Zeynep Rakipoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ship traffic at the Istanbul Strait, suspended due to reduced visibility caused by fog, resumed in the south-north direction on Thursday.

According to the General Directorate of Coastal Safety, two-way ship traffic was briefly halted due to low visibility to the north of Rumelikavak.

As the weather conditions reverted to normal, traffic in the south-north direction was reopened around 1.30 p.m. local time (1030GMT).

The strait connects international ship traffic from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and going further on, to the Mediterranean Sea.