As floodwaters rise, Paris closes the Louvre to protect valuable artwork
The Louvre museum in Paris will close its doors on Friday as officials work to move artwork away from rising floodwaters.
Museum staff will move some work upstairs to protect against the nearby Seine River, which has overflowed its banks after several days of torrential downpours.
The flooding affecting Paris is also taking a toll on the surrounding countryside as well as neighboring countries. The rains are the result of a stubborn low pressure area that has draped itself across Western Europe for nearly a week.
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The Seine has risen 16 feet above its usual level and is expected to crest even higher, though not at an all-time record, on Friday.
The rain and subsequent flooding has forced around 5,000 people to flee their homes, and has left drivers caught on roads amid rising water. Around 20,000 people have lost power in France and, in Germany, nine people have lost their lives, according to The New York Times.
Paris officials have also closed a metro line often used to get to the Eiffel Tower, and the police said their flood warning has been upgraded to "orange," meaning the rising water may have a dangerous impact on people and structures.
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Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
