CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Mississippi River will be closed to vessels for a 5-mile stretch near Caruthersville, Missouri, for 8 days beginning at noon CDT (1 p.m. EDT) Friday due to high water, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The river will be closed from mile marker 844 to 849 to protect the city's levee from damage during the river's forecast crest, the Coast Guard said in a broadcast notice to mariners.

(Reporting by Karl Plume; Editing by John Picinich)