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France has declared flood emergency after the River Seine in Paris burst its banks in some places displacing thousands of people. President Francois Hollande made the announcement yesterday, saying compensation will be paid to those affected by the worst flooding, to hit the French capital.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has ordered some parks to close. The mayor has ordered gymnasiums to open to homeless people amid the flooding. City authorities have said the flood will take weeks to recede.
The River Seine in Paris is at its highest level for more than 30 years, with floods forcing to close parts of the metro systems and major landmarks.
The Louvre and Orsay museums were shut while staff moved artworks to safety as flood levels climbed above 6 meters. The Seine is set to reach as high as 6.5 meters and unlikely to recede over the weekend, with forecast of more downpour.
At least 15 people have died across central Europe as heavy rainfall caused flooding from France to Ukraine. While two people died in France, 10 were killed in southern Germany as several towns were devastated. Two more fatalities were reported in Romania and one in Belgium. Austria, the Netherlands and Poland have also been affected. In Paris, the Cluny – La Sorbonne and St Michel metro stations were closed as a precaution while the river spilled onto the city’s streets.