Mississippi River at New Orleans closed after barges collide
Published 11:30 am Friday, January 15, 2016
- In this aerial photo, barges are seen in the swollen Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, in St. Louis. A rare winter flood threatened nearly two dozen federal levees in Missouri and Illinois on Wednesday as rivers rose, prompting evacuations in several places. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Coast Guard has closed a portion of the swollen Mississippi River at New Orleans after several barges broke loose while being pushed up against the levee.
Coast Guard spokeswoman Lora Ratliff says one barge was damaged Friday morning in a collision with a secured barge.
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Ratliff said the damaged barge was carrying oil, but she had no reports of pollution.
She says the river will remain closed while the Coast Guard investigates the collision.
It was unclear whether the river’s high water level had anything to do with the barge accident. Heavy Mississippi Valley rain has propelled the river higher levels.
