PARIS (Sputnik) – The French government will declare state of emergency in the regions most affected by severe flooding at the next week's Cabinet meeting, French President Francois Hollande said Thursday.
"The coming meeting of the Cabinet will declare state of emergency on the most affected territories," Hollande said, addressing the French city mayors.
State of emergency status will set time limits for French insurance companies to pay out compensation for the inflicted damage.
Heavy rains led to waters rising in northern France, as well as Belgium and Germany. As almost 20-day precipitation amount fell in France, rivers Loire, Seine and Marne burst their banks. Earlier in the day, French authorities rescued some 5,500 people trapped by floods.
