A water leak has damaged hundreds of books in the Louvre Museum’s Egyptian antiquities department, highlighting the deteriorating state of the world’s most visited museum, just weeks after a daring jewelry heist exposed security lapses.
The specialized website La Tribune de l’Art reported that around 400 rare books were affected, blaming the poor condition of the pipeline. He said the department had long sought funds to protect the collection from such risks, without success.
Repairs would take place in 2026
The Louvre’s deputy administrator, Francis Steinbock, told BFM TV on Sunday that the leaking water pipe affected one of the three rooms in the library of the Egyptian antiquities department.
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“We have identified between 300 and 400 works, the count is ongoing,” he said, adding that the lost books were “those consulted by Egyptologists, but no precious books.”
Francis Steinbock acknowledged the problem had been known for years and said repairs were scheduled for September 2026.
These books “have been taken out, opened and meticulous work is being done to dehumidify each page with the help of absorbent paper,” he said.
According to the museum, the incident was caused by a leak in the hydraulic system that powers the library’s heating and ventilation equipment, caused by the accidental opening of a valve. The leak was discovered around 8:45 pm on November 26, just under three hours after the library closed.
Security flaws
four thieves fled in broad daylight with jewelry worth $102 million, exposing glaring security flaws at Le Louvre.
In November, structural deficiencies led to the partial closure of one of the galleries housing Greek vases and offices.
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A report published in October by France’s public audit body, known as the Cour des Comptes, said the museum’s inability to update its infrastructure was exacerbated by excessive spending on works of art.
