France creates emergency fund for people affected by floods

PARIS – France will set up an emergency fund to help those who lost everything after the worst floods in three decades caused the Seine River to burst its banks.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Monday after a government meeting that the “return to normality will take time” and “solidarity is called for.” He said the fund will be credited with “several tens of thousands euros” (dollars) to provide quick help to people with no resources.

The Seine’s water levels peaked Saturday in the French capital but still remained 3.7 metres (more than 12 feet) above normal Monday. Some areas west and south of Paris were still under flood watch along the Seine and one of its tributaries, the Essonne River.

About 7,000 French homes remained without electricity Monday and the Louvre and the Orsay museums in Paris will stay closed until at least Tuesday. Several train stations and roads were still closed in the French capital due to flooding and emergency crews were pumping water out of a key highway interchange.

At least 18 people died from the recent flooding in Germany, France, Romania and Belgium.