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Europe floods: Seine could peak at six metres as Louvre closes doors Europe floods: Seine could peak at six metres as Louvre closes doors
(about 2 hours later)
Floodwaters flowing through Paris could mean the river Seine peaks at six metres on Friday, officials have said, with the Louvre museum closing its doors to the public to allow priceless artworks to be removed in an emergency. Flood waters flowing through Paris could mean the river Seine peaks at six metres on Friday, officials have said, with the Louvre museum closing its doors to the public to allow priceless artworks to be removed in an emergency.
“The museum will remain closed to the public tomorrow [Friday] out of precaution: there is no danger to the public or our staff but will allow us to calmly remove certain art collections should it be necessary,” an internal email to staff, seen by Reuters, stated.“The museum will remain closed to the public tomorrow [Friday] out of precaution: there is no danger to the public or our staff but will allow us to calmly remove certain art collections should it be necessary,” an internal email to staff, seen by Reuters, stated.
After days of torrential rains, the French government has issued an orange alert for central Paris, with the Seine’s water level bursting through five metres. Its record high was 8.6 metres during the devastating floods of 1910.After days of torrential rains, the French government has issued an orange alert for central Paris, with the Seine’s water level bursting through five metres. Its record high was 8.6 metres during the devastating floods of 1910.
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Both the Louvre and, on the opposite bank of the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay, which holds the world’s greatest collection of impressionist masterpieces, have detailed emergency flooding plans.Both the Louvre and, on the opposite bank of the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay, which holds the world’s greatest collection of impressionist masterpieces, have detailed emergency flooding plans.
Both museums organised drills this year to deal with floods. In an alert scenario, the Louvre has 72 hours and the Musée d’Orsay 96 hours to get works held in their underground reserves to safety.Both museums organised drills this year to deal with floods. In an alert scenario, the Louvre has 72 hours and the Musée d’Orsay 96 hours to get works held in their underground reserves to safety.
In one such exercise in March, the Louvre evacuated the whole of the underground section of its new Islamic art galleries in a day. The museum, which has vast underground stores, said it is equipped with anti-flooding pumps and watertight doors.In one such exercise in March, the Louvre evacuated the whole of the underground section of its new Islamic art galleries in a day. The museum, which has vast underground stores, said it is equipped with anti-flooding pumps and watertight doors.
A week of storms has killed nine people across northern Europe, submerged streets, closed schools and left many stranded on rooftops. A week of storms has killed more than 12 people across northern Europe, submerged streets, closed schools and left many stranded on rooftops.
Eight people have died in Germany and six days of heavy rain in France forced the evacuation of thousands in riverside towns south of Paris and in the Loire valley. More than 10 people have died in Germany and six days of heavy rain in France forced the evacuation of thousands in riverside towns south of Paris and in the Loire valley.
The body of an 86-year-old woman was found in her flooded house in Souppes-sur-Loing in central France, where some towns have been hit by the worst flooding in more than 100 years. The body of an 86-year-old woman was found in her flooded house in Souppes-sur-Loing in central France, where some towns have been hit by the worst flooding in more than 100 years. A man on horseback died after he was swept away in a swollen river in Evry-Gregy-sur-Yerre, south-east of Paris.
The French environment minister, Ségolène Royal, said she feared more bodies would be found as waters recede in French villages.
In the small town of Montargis, the water had risen so high that only the roofs of cars could be seen above the surface along the high street.In the small town of Montargis, the water had risen so high that only the roofs of cars could be seen above the surface along the high street.
Rescue workers have responded to about 10,000 calls and evacuated more than 5,000 people since last weekend. Rescue workers have responded to about 10,000 calls and evacuated more than 5,000 people since last weekend. A “natural disaster” will be formally declared next week for the most affected areas, President François Hollande has said.
“The situation remains tense and difficult in several areas. We still have many concerns,” said the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, as he visited a crisis control centre in the flooded town of Nemours, south of Paris.
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Residents were evacuated after the Loing river burst its banks and submerged the high street. Rescuers had to use dinghies to reach stranded residents in streets turned into rivers. People in Nemours were evacuated after the Loing river burst its banks and submerged the high street. Rescuers had to use dinghies to reach stranded residents in streets turned into rivers.
“In 60 years of living here I have never seen this,” said Sylvette Gounaud, a shopworker. “The centre of town is totally underwater, all the shops are destroyed.”“In 60 years of living here I have never seen this,” said Sylvette Gounaud, a shopworker. “The centre of town is totally underwater, all the shops are destroyed.”
In southern Germany, dangerously swollen rivers have severely damaged Bavarian towns. Rescue workers found the bodies of three people in a house in Simbach am Inn on Wednesday and police warned that several other people were missing. In southern Germany, dangerously swollen rivers have severely damaged Bavarian towns. Six people have been killed in and around Simbach am Inn, including three women from the same family – a mother, grandmother and daughter – who had been trapped in their house. Two other elderly people were also found dead in their homes.
The force of the water upended cars and washed away parts of the streets; a thick layer of mud was left throughout the town by the subsiding water. Huge piles of wood and rubbish deposited by the torrent were visible next to badly damaged homes and offices.The force of the water upended cars and washed away parts of the streets; a thick layer of mud was left throughout the town by the subsiding water. Huge piles of wood and rubbish deposited by the torrent were visible next to badly damaged homes and offices.
A woman’s body was discovered caught on a tree trunk in the neighbouring town of Julbach, police said.A woman’s body was discovered caught on a tree trunk in the neighbouring town of Julbach, police said.
On Germany’s south-eastern border with Austria, some residents scrambled on to rooftops to escape the waters on Tuesday. “The floods came so quickly that people had to escape to the roofs of their houses,” a spokesman for the lower Bavaria police said. Earlier this week, four people had been killed in the southern Baden-Württemberg region.
Four people had also been killed earlier this week in the southern Baden-Württemberg region. The outbreak of severe weather began at the weekend with lightning strikes that left several people, including children, injured in Paris and western Germany. Forecasters in France and Germany have warned of more downpours over the next 24 hours.
The outbreak of severe weather began at the weekend with lightning strikes that left several people, including children, injured in Paris and western Germany.
Forecaster Meteo France described the situation as “exceptional, worse than the floods of 1910”. In the centre of Paris, the swollen Seine flooded paths normally used by tourists and washed around a replica of the Statue of Liberty.
Authorities were particularly concerned about the rising waters in Longjumeau, 16 miles south of Paris, where about 200 people spent the night in a gymnasium after being evacuated, and Valls said at least 2,000 more people need to be moved from their homes in the town.
In the Loire valley, a lake of flood water gathered in front of the Château de Chambord, causing a watery reflection of the much-visited 16th-century castle.
The surrounding Loiret region has had six weeks’ rainfall in three days.
The French Open tennis got back on track Wednesday after rain washed out play in Paris earlier in the week, but players hoping to reach the finals face a heavy schedule of matches.
Waters have receded in Austria, where schools and roads were flooded in recent days.