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At least two dead as heavy flood wreaks havoc in France

Xinhua, June 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

The flood caused by torrential and prolonged rainfall has left at least two people dead in France where thousands have been evacuated and a state of emergency was declared.

In a statement, the French Interior Ministry on Friday said a 74-year-old man on horseback lost his life after being swept away by flood in Evry-Gregy-sur-Yerre, south of Paris.

According to the daily Le Parisien, the man had been trying to cross a flooded field.

Late on Wednesday, an 86-old-year woman was found dead in her house in the southwestern suburb of Paris.

Speaking to state-run France 2 TV, French Ecology Minister Segolene Royal said she feared more victims would be found as waters started to recede in the affected regions.

"What will be even more painful for the families who lost their homes, business leaders who lost their business, employees who are going to be laid off, is that water receding will be very slow. It will take several weeks," she added.

Parisians have been on high alert as the rising Seine River is expected to reach a peak of 6.50 meters on Friday evening, Royal said, adding that this was still well below the level on which it would pose a danger to inhabitants.

The river reached a record high of 8.6 metres in 1910, when thousands of Parisians had to flee flooded areas of the city.

A continued rise of river could trigger the evacuation of residents in west Paris, according to the ministry.

Due to the high risks brought by floods, Le Louvre Museum closed its door on Thursday earlier than scheduled and would remain shut on Friday.

Standing on the banks of the Seine River, the Orsay Museum has launched its emergency plan and cancelled activities till June 7.

The SNCF railway company closed RER C train, an underground commuter line which runs along the river.

According to data from the Interior Ministry, 20,000 have been evacuated as heavy floods devastated the Ile de-France region.

French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency in the worst affected areas and promised money to help local authorities deal with the flood damage. Endit