Residents in central France have had to evacuate their homes on boat after days of heavy rainfall caused severe flooding throughout the area (30 and 31 May 2016). The people of Chalette-sur-Loing and Montages have found themselves trapped inside their homes, taking shelter on the second floor after the River Loing burst its banks and flooded the surrounding towns. Those in Nemours and were also affected.
A resident brings baguettes to his mother's flooded house after heavy rain falls in Chalette-sur-Loing MontargisChristian Hartmann/ Reuters
Schools in the Loriet region have been closed and three care homes were evacuated. Emergency services were called out 4,500 times to assist the evacuations on Monday and Tuesday. According to Reuters, a total of 3,000 firemen were mobilised across the country early this week.
Bulent, a resident who was evacuated due to the extreme weather conditions, retold his evacuation story to Reuters: "Rescuers first came to ask if we had any injured people, which we didn't, so they said they would come back 10-15 minutes later to evacuate us. Then they came; for me it was about my dog. They took my dog, and after that me, my wife and my son."
A man pulls a small boat transporting inhabitants in a flooded street of NemoursKenzo Tribouillard/AFPChickens wait to be evacuated onto a dinghy accross a flooded street in Souppes-sur-LoingKenzo Tribouillard/AFP
In Paris, the River Seine burst its banks on Wednesday (1 June), flooding towpaths and famous landmarks – including the Square du Vert-Galant park, which was barely recognisable due to the high levels of water it had accumulated. The feet on the Zouave statue on the Port de l'Alma were no longer visible due to the height of the water – an indicator of level of the Seine. When the statues feet are under water, emergency flood precautions are taken.
However, in Paris the flooding was not as dramatic as in other areas. A giant rise in water levels that last caused extensive damage in the city in 1910. If the same happened today, it could cost up to 30bn (£23.3bn, $33.5bn), according to OECD estimates.
The flooded Square du Vert-Galant park is pictured from the Pont Neuf bridge after the banks of the river Seine became flooded following heavy rainfalls in ParisFrancois Guillot/AFPThe feet of the Zouave statue on the Pont de l'Alma are covered by the rising waters from the Seine River after days of rainy weather in ParisCharles Platiau/ReutersEiffel Tower facing the flooded Seine river in ParisBertrand Guay/ AFPThe flooded Vert Galant park is seen from the Pont Neuf bridge after the banks of the river Seine became flooded following heavy rainfall in ParisFrancois Guillot/AFPA rescuer is lifted back into a helicopter of the Securite Civile, France's civil defence agency, after assisting stranded residents following floods in NemoursDominique Faget/AFPA rescuer evacuates a dog across a flooded street in Souppes-sur-LoingKenzo Tribouillard/AFPA rescueworker pulls a boat of residents through a flooded street in NemoursDominique Faget/AFPA man looks out a window above a flooded street in NemoursKenzo Tribouillard/AFPRescuers evacuate residents through a flooded street in Souppes-sur-LoingKenzo Tribouillard/AFPFirefighters on a small boat evacuate residents from a flooded area after heavy rain falls in MontargisChristian Hartmann/ReutersSubmerged cars are pictured in a flooded street in NemoursDominique Faget/AFPA woman looks out a window above a flooded street in NemoursKenzo Tribouillard/AFPWomen cross a flooded street in Nemours, south-east of ParisDominique Faget/AFPResidents walk accross a flooded street in NemoursDominique Faget/AFPThe streets of Saint-Denis-en-Val flooded street after heavy rainsGuillaume Souvant/AFPFirefighters use a small boat to evacuate residents from a flooded area after heavy rainfall in MontargisChristian Hartmann/ReutersRescuers evacuate residents onto a dinghy accross a flooded street in Souppes-sur-LoingKenzo Tribouillard/AFPA man walks in a flooded street in Montargis in the LoiretChristian Hartmann/ReutersTwo men walk in a flooded street as the city is flooded due to heavy rainfalls at MontargisGuillaume Souvant/AFPA man holds boots as he walks in a flooded street in Montargis in the LoiretChristian Hartmann/ReutersA woman and her dog wait for assistance outside her home protected from the flood with concrete blocks in NemoursKenzo Tribouillard/AFPFirefighters on a small boat evacuate residents from a flooded area after heavy rain falls in Chalette-sur-LoingChristian Hartmann/ReutersA man makes a phonecall as he sits in front of his house in a flooded street in Montargis in the LoiretChristian Hartmann/ReutersFrench firefighters use a small boat to evacuate residents from a flooded area after heavy rainfall in MontargisChristian Hartmann/ReutersA man holds a fence bearing a sign reading 'flooded road' near his house in Meung-sur-Loire southern OrleansGuillaume Souvant/AFPA resident brings baguettes to his mother's flooded house after heavy rain falls in Chalette-sur-LoingChristian Hartmann/Reuters
