River Danube closed to shipping in Austria

No ships are allowed to sail on the Austrian section of the River Danube until further notice following a prolonged period of heavy rainfall, the Ministry for Climate Protection and Mobility announced in Vienna on Tuesday.

Sections of the river had been closed in succession since flooding began last weekend. On Tuesday, shipping was also banned in the border area with Bavaria.

The closure has stranded around 70 cargo ships and 70 passenger ships in Austria. Most passengers have been able to go ashore. More than 100 people travelling on the Swiss river cruiser Thurgau Prestige were allowed to leave on Tuesday, after the flooding had confined them to the vessel in Vienna over the past few days.

The Danube is closed to shipping because the high water levels are falling only slowly after the continuous rain finally came to an end.

The ministry says the rising temperatures mean that snow that fell on the mountains is now expected to melt, bringing fears of a renewed rise in the Danube's level.

The authorities say it is not yet possible to estimate how long the ban on shipping will remain in force.