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Louvre and Paris Metro close amid city flooding

Paris is tackling its severest floods in decades. Credit: REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Paris' iconic Louvre museum, and part of the capital's busy Metro system, have been closed amid growing fears heavy flooding will continue to affect the French capital.

The Louvre stopped admitting visitors on Thursday afternoon as it confirmed that it would be remaining closed to the public on Friday in case it needed to move priceless artworks to safety in the event of the swollen River Seine continuing to rise.

In an official statement the museum wrote: "As the Seine keeps rising, the Louvre Museum will be closed tomorrow Friday 3rd to evacuate artworks held in underground reserves as a precaution."

The museum has said the 'evacuation of some of the works' is 'a preventive measure'. Credit: Facebook

The museum's decision to close came as Rail operator SNCF also announced the closure of the RER C line, which runs alongside the Seine in central Paris, after days of torrential rains caused the Seine's water level to rise rapidly to above five metres (16 feet).

Emergency services have been working to rescue people trapped by flooding on the banks of the Seine River . Credit: REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
The water in the Seine has risen rapidly. Credit: REUTERS/Charles Platiau

In other parts of France the torrential rain has forced thousands of people from their homes, including in Nemours, and an 86-year-old woman was reportedly found dead in her flooded house in a small town southwest of Paris late on Wednesday.

It comes as other parts of Europe were also hit by heavy flooding, including Germany where multiple people have reportedly died as a result of the rainfall.

There have been at least four reported deaths in Germany as a result of the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding. Credit: REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
The Bavarian village of Simbach am Inn east of Munich, Germany, has been devastated by the flooding. Credit: REUTERS/Michaela Rehle