Ships blocked by Rhine accident

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Salvage workers are still trying to fish containers out of the Rhine near Cologne after a cargo ship spilled its load and blocked the river.

About 400 ships are at a standstill on the river and traffic is not expected to resume until Friday at the earliest.

Three containers loaded with toxic chemicals have been recovered, but about half of the 40-ton containers are still under water, German media report.

The German ship Excelsior lost 32 of its 103 containers on Sunday.

A diving bell and crane ships are being used to try and clear Europe's busiest waterway. Traffic along a 20km (12-mile) stretch of the river is at a standstill.