River Seine recedes from record levels in Paris, but other areas still at risk as storms continue

Floodwaters slowly receded from the streets of Paris on Sunday, one day after the River Seine reached its highest level in more than 30 years.

But new thunderstorms were expected to hit eastern France early this week, and in Normandy, northwest of the French capital, the Seine was expected to peak late Sunday.

In Paris, the river peaked Saturday at more than 4 metres above normal, according to the national flood service. Authorities warned that it could take up to 10 days to return to normal levels.

The Louvre Museum, as well as several Paris train stations and roads, remained closed, the Associated Press reported, with restaurants along the Seine still engulfed in water and tourist boats unable to pass under bridges.

But the glass-topped Grand Palais exhibition hall opened again on Sunday, two days after it closed amid flooding concerns. It is hosting an exhibit by avant-garde Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping, among several others.

The flooding was the worst in France’s capital since 1982, the newspaper reported, with more than 20,000 people evacuated since last weekend and about 18,000 homes without power earlier last week.