Flooding hits river cruises

Severe flooding in Central Europe has forced river cruise lines to amend or cancel itineraries, at least until weather conditions improve.

Avalon Waterways has cancelled three departures over the next 10, while AmaWaterways transferred passengers from one ship to another, as vessels have not been able to pass through the Main-Danube Canal in southern Germany.

Main roads in many areas of central Europe have been closed and rail services cut. In Austria, the meteorological service said two months of rain had fallen in just two days.  Parts of the Pinzgau region, which includes Taxenbach, have been declared a disaster zone.

Germany has drafted in the army to help reinforce flood defences in the south.

In the Czech Republic, a nationwide state of emergency is in force, with water levels expected to have peaked on Tuesday. As a precaution, the city's metro system and central sewage treatment plant were closed, metal flood defences were erected and sandbags built up along the banks of the Vltava.

The Charles Bridge - normally packed with tourists - has been closed and tigers at the city's zoo were tranquilised and moved out of an enclosure thought to be at risk.