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Paris floods LATEST images: Swollen River Seine keeps on rising

The Seine in Paris continued to rise on Thursday, covering quays and putting museums on an emergency footing as the river gets set to reach a peak of up to 6.2 metres on Saturday. Here are the latest images from the floods.

Published: 25 January 2018 17:36 CET
Paris floods LATEST images: Swollen River Seine keeps on rising
Photo: AFP
If the River Seine reaches the expected 6.2 metres, its water levels will be around four to five metres above its normal height.
 
Roads and paths along the river were already flooded days ago and have long since been closed off.
 
River traffic has long been halted on the Seine, which is normally packed with tour boats and owners of the city's picturesque houseboats worry their vessels might be lifted onto the quais.
 
The RER C train line which runs alongside the river has been suspended in the central section.
 
Like elsewhere in France, Paris has seen double the amount of normal rainfall. A total of 183 millimetres (7.2 inches) has fallen in the French capital since December 1st, with more rain forecast for Thursday.
 
While the Seine is set to reach levels last seen in 1982 at its peak on Saturday, it flows in a deep channel through the heart of the capital, posing a danger only to riverside buildings and infrastructure.
 
Here are the latest images of the floods in the French capital on Thursday.
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
Photo: AFP
 
And a couple just for fun…
 

 

 

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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