The Rhine in southern Germany is still close to navigation after

Parts of the Rhine in southern Germany remained closed to freight transport on Tuesday after heavy rain in southern Germany caused water levels to rise, shipping authorities said.

River shipping on the Rhine has effectively stopped around Maxau and Mannheim in southern Germany, the German River Shipping Company said. The river was closed to the transport of goods this weekend after heavy rains caused significant flooding in southern Germany, interrupting shipping to Switzerland.

High water means ships do not have enough space to navigate under bridges and the obstruction prevents ships from sailing to Switzerland. Navigation on the northern areas of the river is generally operating despite rising water levels, including at crucial points in Duisburg, Cologne and Karlsruhe.

The flood warning center for the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg said water levels on the Rhine were expected to fall in the coming days, but Maxau was not expected to resume deliveries before Friday.

The Rhine is an important shipping route for mineral products, grains, animal feed, coal and petroleum products such as fuel oil.

The Rhine has repeatedly faced low water levels due to unusually dry summers in recent years.