Shipping traffic halted on major rivers in Germany due to heavy rain, floods

BERLIN, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains and floods in the wake of storm "Burglind" have continued causing widespread damage and disruption in Germany on Friday.

Western and southern Germany in particular are affected by flooding rivers and mudslides. Shipping has already been halted on several key stretches of the Rhine route, including around the city of Karlsruhe. Authorities warned that Cologne could be affected by shipping bans as well over the weekend.

In Sankt Blasien, a small town in the Black Forest, 150 inhabitants were temporarily evacuated following mudslides in the area. So far, at least one death has been reported in Germany due to storm "Burglind" after a lifeguard drowned in a river in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

Storm "Burglind" first arrived in Germany on Wednesday, bringing gale-force winds and heavy rain. According to media reports, the extreme weather has since caused material damage in a three-digit million figure.

The German Meteorological Service (DWD) expects the situation to improve in the next days as rain gives way to drier weather. Enditem