Paris(France) on alert as swollen Seine reaches peak levels Friday June 03,2016

The rain-swollen River Seine in Paris reached its highest level in three decades on Friday June 03,2016, spilling its banks and prompting the Louvre museum to shut its doors and evacuate artworks in its basement.

Parisians were urged to avoid the banks of the river which was expected to reach a peak of six metres (19 feet) on Friday, while deadly floods continued to wreak havoc elsewhere in France and Germany

The  River Seine which burst its banks in several places earlier this week after days of heavy rain, is continuing to rise. Officials said Friday afternoon that it had surpassed the 6m above-base-level mark and could peak as high as 6.50 metres Friday evening.

Days of torrential rain have only added to the gloomy atmosphere in France, also facing a third full day of train strikes after months of protests and political turmoil.

French Environment Minister Segolene Royal said she feared more bodies would be found as waters recede in French villages which have seen main streets turned into muddy rivers.

Some towns in central France have been hit by their worst floods in over a century, with more than 5,000 people evacuated since the weekend and around 19,000 homes without power

In Paris, officials were erecting emergency flood barriers along the Seine and a suburban train line running alongside the river was closed.

The riverbanks are home to both the Louvre -- the world's most visited museum -- and the Musee d'Orsay, which was also preparing for the worst.

The Musee d'Orsay, a converted railway station which hosts the world's greatest Impressionist collection, closed early Thursday and was to move its most vulnerable works to upper floors.

Water rising near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Parisians were urged to stay away from the Seine, which has spilled over its banks in places.