Flood-hit Paris
January 29, 2018
The river rose to 5.84 meters (19.2 feet) early Monday, causing continued headaches for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks.
The Vigicrues flooding watchdog said the river would stay at its current level throughout the day before beginning to recede Tuesday. Around 1,500 people have been evacuated from their homes in the greater Paris region, according to police, while a similar number of homes remain without electricity.
Tourists also suffered with the capital's famous Bateaux Mouches riverboats out of service, and only emergency services authorized to navigate the waterway.
A main commuter line, the RER C, has halted service at Paris stops until at least February 5, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed.
The Seine did not quite reach the 2016 high of 6.1 meters, when priceless artworks had to be evacuated from the Louvre. But the world's most visited museum was still on alert Sunday, along with the Musee d'Orsay and Orangerie galleries, with the lower level of the Louvre's Islamic arts wing closed to visitors at least until Monday.
More favorable weather is expected for the week ahead, but even once the water levels start to recede, forecasters and officials say it will be a slow process, as much of the ground in northern France is already waterlogged.
fm/eg (AFP)