Rapid rising of storm waters across
Paris forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, while museums rush to
protect world-famous artworks and artifacts from the worst flooding seen in
decades.
France has already declared a state of
natural disaster for the most hit areas, allowing the release of emergency
funds to local authorities. In neighboring Germany, residents battle against further
damage of flash floods.
People already sensed the flooded
Seine from the Alma Bridge in Paris on Friday, June 3. The bridge with its
status of Zouave, a former French infantry regiment, drenched as it measures
the level of the rising waters in the capital.
The treacherous waves of water has
killed 11 people as of Friday—10 of them in southern Germany and one on the
outskirts of Paris. It has caused chaos in the French capital and immediately
shut down several busy train lines and part of its metro, adding more
congestions on its roads.
The French army has assisted in rescue
operations after days of heavy rains crippled the city.
The Seine is expected to burst its
banks by Friday evening with the river level fast approaching 6.5 meters (21.3
feet)—the highest in more than 30 years, according to the environment ministry.
The Louvre is carrying out the
overwhelming task of moving 150,000 pieces of art—mostly ancient Islamic,
Greek, and Italian artifacts which are mostly from its lower floors as floods
threaten to creep into busy tourist site.
The “Mona Lisa”, however, stays dry on
her upper floor in the Louvre.
Source: CNN
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