Drought prompts Panama Canal restrictions

Panama Canal officials say they plan to introduce further restrictions on the weight of ships passing through the waterway.

The move is as a result of a drought being blamed on the weather phenomenon known as El Nino.

Officials say the water level in the lake system which feeds the canal has dropped because of a lack of rain.

The new measure will be introduced in February, meaning many ships using the canal will have to carry lighter loads.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service