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Photos: Paris is drowning in epic floods

Hanna Kozlowska
Updated
Dangerously close to the city's most recognizable structure.
Dangerously close to the city's most recognizable structure.

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. <span class="inline-image-credit">(EPA/Christoph Petit Tesson)</span>
Asnieres, northern suburb of Paris. (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.

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

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