Storm Kirk Causes Flooding in National Assembly, Evacuations Underway
Storm Kirk has wreaked havoc across Paris, leading to significant flooding in the National Assembly's annex located at 101, rue de l'université. The heavy rains, which began on Wednesday, prompted the evacuation of several parliamentarians and staff members from the building, as firefighters responded to the emergency. According to reports from various sources, including Le Figaro, the Victor Hugo room, a key conference venue, was also inundated with water, affecting parliamentary operations.
Deputy François Ruffin humorously noted on social media, "After the government, it's the Assembly that's taking on water," highlighting the severity of the situation. Despite the chaos, the main site of the National Assembly, Palais-Bourbon, appears to have escaped damage. MP Denis Masséglia confirmed that all individuals were safely evacuated, even as alarms rang out during a live stream on the Twitch platform.
Brigitte Klinkert, MP and Quaestor of the National Assembly, assured the public that measures were being taken to ensure the safety of MPs and staff, while also addressing the impact of the storm on parliamentary work. The storm's effects are not limited to the National Assembly, as several other parliamentary buildings have also been impacted.
As of Thursday morning, the heavy rains associated with Storm Kirk are reportedly weakening, but Météo France has issued a red alert for Seine-et-Marne and maintained orange flood alerts for six other departments. The ongoing weather conditions serve as a reminder of the challenges posed by natural disasters to infrastructure and public safety.
