Heavy rains across Europe have left at least 10 people dead, most of them in Germany.

More downpours are forecast right through the weekend across a band of central Europe from France to Ukraine, with as much as 50mm (2in) of rain falling in some parts in just a few hours.

At least nine people have died in recent days in Germany, while several people are missing.

France is to declare a state of natural disaster for the areas worst affected by flooding, French President Francois Hollande told French media Thursday — a move that will release emergency funds to local authorities.

Emergency workers crossed the town in rescue boats, evacuating residents from their homes and than 3,000 people were evacuated from Nemours, about 50 miles south of Paris, after the Loing overflowed, flooding businesses and homes.

The heavy rains caused the Seine in Paris to rise 18 feet above its typical level by Thursday evening, flooding the lower embankments and shutting several roads but causing no significant damage.

The level is still far from the record of 1910, however, when the river rose 26 feet above its regular level.

The rainfall also disrupted the French Open, where several tennis matches have been postponed.

Meanwhile the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, is to close on Friday amid worsening flooding caused by days of torrential rain and some artworks at the Louvre in Paris will be moved to protect them from possible flooding after the Seine burst its banks following days of torrential rain.

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