In pictures: Iowa floods

Officials have declared most of Iowa a disaster zone after it was swamped by severe flooding following days of heavy rain.

At least 24,000 people have been evacuated from nearly 4,000 homes in the Hawkeye State.

The disaster was triggered by storms blamed for at least nine deaths in the US Midwest this week.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city, was one of the worst hit, with 438 city blocks inundated.

State capital Des Moines dealt with its first major flooding as water poured out of the Des Moines river when a levee gave way.

In the last week Iowa has had at least 8in (20cm) of rain and more downpours are forecast.

Some residents have lost their homes altogether.

This woman was one of many who had to be rescued.

With the city's streets transformed into rivers, residents took their boats out.

Waist-deep, this man tries to salvage a few belongings.