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Parisians warned as level of River Seine continues to rise

Parisians have been warned to take care this weekend due to the rising levels of the River Seine, which have been shooting up in the wake of Storm Eleanor.

Published: 5 January 2018 18:36 CET
Parisians warned as level of River Seine continues to rise
File photo: Flooded River Seine/AFP
The River Seine is flooded and its levels just keep on rising. 
 
The river's water levels have already doubled from 1.6 metres to 3.2 metres in a week and it is expected they will continue to go up for the next 72 hours after Storm Eleanor hit much of France on Wednesday. 
 
Water levels at the Austerlitz Bridge in central Paris on Friday afternoon stood at 3.26 metres compared to 2.31 on Monday and they are expected to reach a peak of four metres over the weekend. 
 
As a result Parisians were warned on Friday against going down to their cellars, with City Hall calling for “vigilance regarding cellars and basements”. 
 
Residents have also been warned against storing valuable goods in these rooms. 
 
Further measures could be taken in the coming days, the police headquarters said on Friday, including the closure of pedestrian areas along the river as well as traffic restrictions in affected areas.
 
In general, people in Paris have been advised to take caution when travelling along the waterways of the Seine and asked to stay up to date with the latest information.

 
READ ALSO:
IN IMAGES: Storm Eleanor's 140km/h winds lash France
Photo: Mairie 17eme 
 
Paris has been on “yellow warning” for flooding since Wednesday when the first flood prevention methods were introduced along the River Seine.
 
This included the dismantling of sports facilities and other structures.

 
It is predicted that levels will stabilise early next week and although the authorities are concerned about safety, the flood isn't expected to reach 2016 levels when the river reached a staggering 6.1 metres.

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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