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Parisians warned as level of River Seine continues to rise

Parisians have been warned to take care this weekend due to the rising levels of the River Seine, which have been shooting up in the wake of Storm Eleanor.

Published: 5 January 2018 18:36 CET
Parisians warned as level of River Seine continues to rise
File photo: Flooded River Seine/AFP
The River Seine is flooded and its levels just keep on rising. 
 
The river's water levels have already doubled from 1.6 metres to 3.2 metres in a week and it is expected they will continue to go up for the next 72 hours after Storm Eleanor hit much of France on Wednesday. 
 
Water levels at the Austerlitz Bridge in central Paris on Friday afternoon stood at 3.26 metres compared to 2.31 on Monday and they are expected to reach a peak of four metres over the weekend. 
 
As a result Parisians were warned on Friday against going down to their cellars, with City Hall calling for “vigilance regarding cellars and basements”. 
 
Residents have also been warned against storing valuable goods in these rooms. 
 
Further measures could be taken in the coming days, the police headquarters said on Friday, including the closure of pedestrian areas along the river as well as traffic restrictions in affected areas.
 
In general, people in Paris have been advised to take caution when travelling along the waterways of the Seine and asked to stay up to date with the latest information.

 
READ ALSO:
IN IMAGES: Storm Eleanor's 140km/h winds lash France
Photo: Mairie 17eme 
 
Paris has been on “yellow warning” for flooding since Wednesday when the first flood prevention methods were introduced along the River Seine.
 
This included the dismantling of sports facilities and other structures.

 
It is predicted that levels will stabilise early next week and although the authorities are concerned about safety, the flood isn't expected to reach 2016 levels when the river reached a staggering 6.1 metres.

TRAVEL NEWS

Revealed: The fastest way to get across Paris

Car, moped, public transport, or electric bicycle - which means of transport is the quickest way to get across Paris?

Published: 14 April 2022 14:12 CEST
Revealed: The fastest way to get across Paris

One intrepid reporter for French daily Le Parisien decided to find out. 

The challenge was simple. Which mode of transport would get the journalist from the heart of Fontenay-sous-Bois in the eastern suburbs to the newspaper’s office on Boulevard de Grenelle, west Paris, fastest?

Over four separate journeys, each one in the middle of rush hour, the electric bicycle was quickest and easiest. More expensive than conventional bikes, electric bikes do come with a government subsidy.

The journey was described as ‘pleasant and touristy’ on a dry but chilly morning going via dedicated cycle lanes that meant the dogged journalist avoided having to weave in and out of traffic.

It took, in total, 47 minutes from start to finish at an average speed of 19km/h, on a trip described as “comfortable” but with a caveat for bad weather. The cost was a few centimes for charging up the bike.

In comparison, a car journey between the same points took 1 hour 27 minutes – a journey not helped by a broken-down vehicle. Even accounting for that, according to the reporter’s traffic app, the journey should – going via part of the capital’s southern ringroad – have taken about 1 hr 12.

Average speed in the car was 15km/h, and it cost about €2.85 in diesel – plus parking.

A “chaotic and stressful” moped trip took 1 hour 3 minutes, and cost €1.30 in unleaded petrol.

Public transport – the RER and Metro combined via RER A to Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile then Metro line 6 to the station Bir-Hakeim – took 50 minutes door to door, including a 10-minute walk and cost €2.80. The journey was described as “tiring”.

READ ALSO 6 ways to get around Paris without the Metro

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