Belgian flood toll rises to 18

Flooding in eastern Belgium has left at least 18 people dead and 19 missing, a crisis centre spokeswoman told AFP on Friday.

The figure is expected to rise as rescue and recovery operations continue in the Meuse valley, and Belgian media reports already cite 23 dead.

More than 120 people have died so far in floods that have devastated large areas of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

In Belgium, waters have begun to recede and torrential rains have ceased, but thousands of emergency responders are still at work.