The Seine floods Paris

Rivers in Europe are bursting their banks from Paris to the southern German state of Bavaria, killing six people, trapping thousands more in homes or cars and forcing everything from subway lines to castles to the Louvre to shut down. French authorities were especially concerned about the rising waters of the Seine, which winds through Paris and was expected to peak Friday, June 3, 2016.

Here, the Seine bursts its banks near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, June 2, 2016. Officials were putting up emergency flood barriers along the swollen river after days of torrential rain -- including near the Louvre, home to priceless works of art.

Paris flood

General view of the flooded river-side of the Seine in central Paris with Notre-Dame Cathedral in the background, June 1, 2016.

Heavy rains lashing parts of France, Germany and Austria cut roads, stranded people on rooftops and forced schools to close their doors, and French weather forecasters warned of more to come on June 2.

Paris flood

A replica of the Statue of Liberty faces the flooded Seine in Paris, June 1, 2016.

Four bodies were found floating in homes in France and Germany on June 1, 2016 in flash floods that left water lapping at the doors of one of the Loire Valley's most famous chateaux. Heavy rains lashing parts of France, Germany and Austria cut roads, stranded people on rooftops and forced schools to close their doors.

Paris flood

A couple exchanges kisses on the bank as high waters causes flooding along the Seine in Paris, June 1, 2016.

The Louvre Museum in Paris says it will be closed Friday to remove artworks from rooms threatened by rising waters from the Seine and preventatively shift them upstairs. Its most famous painting, Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," is staying put on an upper floor, however.

Paris flood

Padlocks clipped by lovers are seen in front of the "Ile de la Cite" flooded by the Seine in central Paris, June 1, 2016.

Paris police upgraded their flood warning to "orange" -- the second-highest level -- for areas in the French capital near the Seine, which has already overflowed its banks in many places. The warning means floods could have "a significant impact" on buildings and people.

Artwork moved

Crates containing pieces of artworks from the collections of the Louvre Museum are seen near statues after the museum was closed to the public due to the rising Seine in Paris, June 3, 2016.

The museum closed Friday to remove artworks from rooms threatened by rising waters and preventatively shift them upstairs. Its most famous painting, Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," is staying put on an upper floor, however.

Paris flood

A Rolls-Royce is parked as high water causes flooding along the Seine in Paris, June 1, 2016.

Evacuation

Rescue workers from the French "Securite Civile" on small boats attend an evacuation operation for residents of the edge of the Seine river in Juvisy-sur-Orge, near Paris, June 3, 2016 after days of almost non-stop rain caused flooding in the country.

France floods

A resident brings baguettes to his mother's flooded house after heavy rain falls in Chalette-sur-Loing Montargis, near Orleans, France, June 1, 2016.

Zouave statue half submerged

The legs of the Zouave statue under the Pont de l'Alma are covered by the rising waters from the Seine River after five days of rainy weather on June 03, 2016 in Paris.

The Zouave statue is an indicator of the level of the Seine, when his feet are under water, emergency flood precautions are taken. The statue has attracted more and more Parisians and tourists as the Seine keeps rising, reaching 6 meters high so far.

Paris flood

The Seine water level is seen just below the Alma bridge near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, June 2, 2016.

Tourist boat cruises in Paris have been cancelled and roads in and around the capital are under water. A suburban train line that runs alongside the Seine in central Paris, serving popular tourist sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides plaza and the Orsay museum, was shut down but other subway lines were running normally.

Sandbags in Paris

Shopkeepers use sandbags to protect their store in Longjumeau, south of Paris, June 2, 2016.

The Seine

The flooded Vert Galant park is seen from the Pont Neuf bridge after the banks of the Seine became flooded following heavy rainfalls on June 1, 2016 in Paris.

The Seine

A man watches the flooded expressway along the Seine near the Pont Neuf (rear) after its banks became flooded, following heavy rainfalls on June 1, 2016 in Paris.

The Seine

A man uses a dinghy as he leaves his houseboat moored near the Eiffel Tower during flooding on the banks of the Seine in Paris, after days of almost non-stop rain caused flooding in the country, June 2, 2016.

France floods

A man searches for people in flooded buildings in the town of Montargis, south of Paris on June 1, 2016.

Loing Canal

Boats are lined up on the flooded Loing Canal in St Mammes, where the Loing joins the Seine south of Paris, June 2, 2016.

Floods inundating parts of France and Germany have left five people dead and thousands trapped in homes or cars, as rivers have broken their banks from Paris to Bavaria.

France flood

Chickens wait to be evacuated onto a dinghy across a flooded street on June 1, 2016 in Souppes-sur-Loing, southeast of Paris.

Submerged car

An abandoned car is submerged in deep water on the flooded river-side of the River Seine in Paris, June 3, 2016.

Using styrofoam

Residents who refused to be evacuated sit on makeshift boats during evacuation operations of the Villeneuve-Trillage flooded suburb in Villeneuve Saint-Georges, outside Paris, France, June 3, 2016 after days of almost non-stop rain caused flooding in the country.

The Seine

Boats and barges are seen near the Quai de Conti along the Seine after its banks became flooded following heavy rainfalls on June 1, 2016 in Paris.

The Seine

A picture taken on June 2, 2016 in Paris near the Bir-Hakeim bridge (background) shows street signs above the water on the flooded banks of the river Seine following heavy rainfalls.

High water

A resident walks past abandoned cars as he escapes from the flooded area of Villeneuve-Trillage suburb in Villeneuve Saint-Georges, outside Paris, June 3, 2016.

Evacuating residents

French firefighters on a small boat evacuate residents from a flooded area in Longjumeau, southern Paris, after days of almost non-stop rain caused flooding in the country, June 2, 2016.