Floods devastate French cities, prompt state of emergency

A man walks on a flooded road near his houseboat moored near the Eiffel towel during flooding on the banks of the Seine River in Paris, France, after days of almost non-stop rain caused flooding in the country June 2, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - Due to heavy rainfall across French cities, flood waters have reached alarming level, forcing thousands of people to quit their homes, and plunged Paris' vibrant venues and most visited sites into chaos.

In the French capital, the Seine rose above five meters, forcing the SNCF railway company to close RER C train, an underground commuter line which runs along the river.

According to media reports, the level of the Seine River would reach its peak tonight to 5.6 meters before turning to normal situation. The river reached a record high of 8.60 meters in 1910.

On high risks of floods, Le Louvre Museum closed its doors earlier than scheduled and would remain shut on Friday.

Standing on the banks of the Seine, the Orsay Museum has launched its emergency plan and cancelled activities for the rest of the day.

At a meeting with mayor associations, President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency in the worst affected areas and promised money to help local authorities deal with the flood damage.

Earlier, at a joint press conference with Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet, Hollande said "when there are such severe weather phenomenon, we should realise that we must act on the global level."