Mississippi floods cause billion-dollar damage

Palmyra: The crest of the swollen Mississippi River moved relentlessly downstream on Saturday as volunteers manned sandbagged levees, nursed hopes and coped with the costs of the worst US Midwest flooding in 15 years.

The river's relentless violence overcame more than two dozen levees this week, submerging small towns and vast stretches of prime farmland.

The Midwest flooding and storms blamed for 24 deaths since late May have caused damage in the billions of dollars and are expected to push US and world food prices higher.

Up to five million acres may have been lost to just-planted crops at the heart of the world's top grain and food exporter.