Polish authorities on flood alert

The Polish city of Krakow is putting all its resources into fighting back the rising waters of the Vistula river which surrounds the city, after a week of heavy rains which have caused heavy floods across southern Poland.

The regional authorities have issued orders to emergency services to use all resources available after a further night of torrential rain.

The past week of floods has killed nine people and left hundreds homeless, after a number of rivers in southern Poland burst their banks.

The floods, which have cut electricity supplies and ruined crops, are the worst to hit Poland since 1997.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service