Rain-swollen Seine burst its banks, engulfs quays

Floodwaters are nearing their peak in Paris, with the rain-swollen Seine River engulfing scenic quays and threatening wine cellars and museum basements.

Unusually heavy rains have engorged the Seine and other rivers in the region, forcing a halt to all boat traffic in Paris, including tourist cruises.

Some quay-side restaurants were submerged, and roads and parks were closed along with the bottom floor of the Louvre museum.

Groundwater was also seeping into some Paris cellars, and authorities warned residents of some neighbourhoods to remove any valuables.

However, authorities said Saturday that the flooding won't be as bad as forecast earlier this week. The river is expected to peak in Paris on Sunday at sixmetres or less on the Austerlitz scale, well below the 8.6 metres hit in record floods in 1910.In normal times, the river measures about 1.5 metres on the Austerlitz scale.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated along the Seine as floods caused significant damage in Paris suburbs in recent days, but no deaths or injuries have been reported.

Parisians seemed to be taking the high water and closures in stride.

Tourists took photos of water-covered embankments Saturday, as workers inspected water infiltrations on a road.

Meanwhile, fishermen and a visiting flock of cormorants took advantage of the rushing, boat-free river to look for lunch.

"The flood of the Seine river can be interesting from a fishing perspective, because many fish approach more easily the river banks and the surface," said amateur fisherman Maxime Potier, as he casthis line from the Arsenal Port in eastern Paris.

"I understand that people might fear the floods because of the strength of the current but here we are in a port, no current, so there is no fear."