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Photos: Paris is drowning in epic floods

Dangerously close to the city’s most recognizable structure.
Dangerously close to the city’s most recognizable structure.
Image: Reuters/Pascal Rossignol
By
Hanna Kozlowska
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Pounded by days of non-stop rain, Paris has been flooded by the highest levels of water in more than three decades. The Seine river that flows through the city burst through its banks on Wednesday (June 1), creating apocalyptic landscapes in the heart of Europe.

Waters are expected to reach a peak level of 6.5m (21ft) above normal levels today (June 3), threatening the cultural treasures of the French capital. The famous Louvre and Orsay museums have been forced to close, in order to move their collections to safer locations.

Asnieres, northern suburb of Paris.
Asnieres, northern suburb of Paris.
Image: EPA/Christoph Petit Tesson

Paris has seen epic flooding before, notably in the 1910 “Great Flood of Paris,” when water rose more than eight meters (26 feet), submerging the city for two months.

Heavy rains have been merciless across the rest of France and other European countries since the weekend, killing at least 15, mostly in southern Germany. In France alone, more than 5,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

A resident brings French baguettes to his mother’s flooded house in Chalette-sur-Loing Montargis, near Orleans.
A resident brings French baguettes to his mother’s flooded house in Chalette-sur-Loing Montargis, near Orleans.
Image: Reuters/Christian Hartmann
Padlocks clipped by lovers are seen in front of the Ile de La Cite.
Padlocks clipped by lovers are seen in front of the Ile de La Cite.
Image: Reuters/Charles Platiau
Houseboats are moored as high waters cover the banks of the Seine.
Houseboats are moored as high waters cover the banks of the Seine.
Image: Reuters/Pascal Rossignol
Villeneuve Saint-Georges, outside Paris.
Villeneuve Saint-Georges, outside Paris.
Image: Reuters/Christian Hartmann
Image for article titled Photos: Paris is drowning in epic floods
Image: EPA/Jeremy Lempin
The slowly sinking ‘Le Zouave’ statue, often used as a marker for the level of the Seine.
The slowly sinking ‘Le Zouave’ statue, often used as a marker for the level of the Seine.
Image: EPA/Jeremy Lempin
Crates with pieces of artworks from the collections of the Louvre Museum.
Crates with pieces of artworks from the collections of the Louvre Museum.
Image: Reuters/John Schults
Juvisy-sur-Orge, near Paris.
Juvisy-sur-Orge, near Paris.
Image: Reuters/Christian Hartmann
Some things never change.
Some things never change.
Image: Reuters/Charles Platiau
The French Open must go on.
The French Open must go on.
Image: Reuters/Pascal Rossignol
Roland Garros stadium.
Roland Garros stadium.
Image: AP Photo/Michel Euler
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
Image: AP Photo/David Vincent
French firefighters on small boats evacuate residents from a flooded area in Nemours.
French firefighters on small boats evacuate residents from a flooded area in Nemours.
Image: Reuters/Christian Hartmann