Paris floods set to peak as torrential rain causes chaos across Europe

Floodwaters threatening Paris were set to peak on Friday as the Louvre and Orsay museums closed to move artworks to safety in the wake of torrential rain that has killed 20 people in three countries.

The Louvre said it was closing to “ensure the protection of the works located in flood zones”.

The River Seine has rised 6 metres (20ft) above its normal level and has led to the closure of at least one rail line in the city.

The number of dead in the floods has now risen to at least 14 - 10 in southern Germany and two each in France and Romania, the BBC reported, adding that more downpours are forecast for the weekend across a band of central Europe from France to Ukraine.

Several towns in southern Germany have been devastated with Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Poland also been affected.