
French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the flooding, which has been caused by the Loire and Seine rivers bursting their banks following heavy downpours. The leader promised money to help local authorities deal with the damage.

Photos show residents climbing out of their houses onto rafts, as boats float across streets that now resemble rivers.

Rail operator SNCF was forced to close an underground commuter line running along the Seine in Paris that is frequently used by tourists traveling to the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.

"The museum will remain closed to the public tomorrow 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," the email states.
Meanwhile, the Musee d'Orsay said it would close earlier than usual on Thursday.
In the Loire valley, the Chambord Castle - a Unesco World Heritage Site dating back to the 1500s - has been surrounded by water.
Speaking during a visit to a crisis control center in flooded Nemours, where 3,000 of the town's 13,000 residents have been evacuated, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said: "The situation remains tense and difficult in several areas. We still have many concerns."
At least one person in France has died due to the flooding, as an 86-year-old woman was found dead in her house southwest of Paris late on Wednesday.
Heavy rains have also affected other parts of Europe, with six days of downpours leading to the death of eight people in Germany.
...I thought the water in France was always l'eau.