4 dead as Paris grapples with worst flooding since 1982


In France, the Seine has crested at about 20 feet above normal levels after a week of heavy rains caused the famous river to flood Paris, and seriously inundate other parts of France plus Germany, Belgium, and Romania. Four people died and 42 were injured in flooding in France, Prime Minister Manual Valls said Saturday, bringing the death toll across Europe to 17 in recent days, including 11 in southern Germany. More than 17,000 homes are without electricity in Paris and central France, and several public buildings are closed in Paris, including the Louvre and Orsay museums, the national library, and the Grand Palais exhibition center. The waters of the Seine are dropping "slowly but steadily" from the worst flooding in Paris since 1982, Valls said.
You can see some of the damage from the flooding in Germany and France in the BBC News report below. Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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