The Louvre and Orsay museums evacuate their treasures from underground basements to higher floors as French officials warn the river Seine, already swollen by flood waters, could peak at six meters. Mana Rabiee reports.
Tourists hoping to see some of the world's greatest artwork at the Louvre are feeling the disappointment ... ... as the museum shuts its doors in the face of rising water levels along the swollen river Seine. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM ISTANBUL, AUGUSTE, SAYING: "Tomorrow we are going to leave so we cannot visit. For the next time, maybe, if we have the opportunity to come again." The Louvre, along the with the Orsay museum, is moving some its treasures from underground basements to higher floors ... ... a precautionary measure amid forecasts that the river will peak at 6 meters, the highest levels in over 30 years. (nats river and flooded city) Days of torrential rain here and south of Paris have produced floods that have killed at least two people and forced thousands to evacuate. The Seine burst its banks earlier this week, flooding riverside shops and halting Paris' iconic boat tours. Residents are talking about the record flood of 1910 and are starting to get nervous. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARSEILLE RESIDENT, ODILE, SAYING: "Its a bit frightening, everything that's happening.... We've been talking about the flood of 1910, and not too long ago they did flood drills, how to evacuate museums, people, etc. And in the end it's happening now." The army's been deployed to a Paris suburb nearly Orly airport to evacuate stranded residents. The government says the floods may take several weeks to subside -- and that the retreating waters COULD then reveal MORE victims.
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét