Seine water levels decrease again after Paris flooding peaks

View of the flooded banks of the river Seine in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris on June 3. Both the Louvre and Orsay museums were closed as the Seine, which officials said was at its highest level in nearly 35 years, was expected to peak sometime later Friday. AP

PARIS—French authorities say the water level of the Seine river in Paris is starting to decrease after reaching its peak overnight, the highest in nearly 35 years.

But authorities warned it could take up to ten days for the river to come back to its normal levels after the flooding that swelled the river to about 4.5 meters (15 feet) above average levels in Paris.

Floods due to heavy rains have inundated parts of France, Germany and Belgium this week.

Over 17,000 homes were still without electricity Saturday in the Paris region and center of France.

Authorities have also shut the Louvre museum, the national library, the Orsay museum and the Grand Palais, Paris’ striking glass-and-steel topped exhibition center.