Last month, a water leak damaged hundreds of books in the Egyptian antiquities department of the Louvre in Paris. The case occurred shortly after a jewelry theft exposed security lapses at the facility.
The specialized site La Tribune de l’Art reports that around 400 rare books were affected due to the poor condition of the pipes. According to the website, the Egyptian Antiquities Department had long sought funds to protect the collection against such risks, without success.
The deputy administrator of the Louvre, Francis Steinbock, indicated on Sunday that a leak in the water pipe had affected one of the three rooms of the library of the department of Egyptian antiquities.
“We have identified between 300 and 400 works, the count is still in progress,” he said, adding that the lost books were “those consulted by Egyptologists, but not the precious books.”
He acknowledged the problem had been known for years and said repairs were planned for September 2026.
In October, the museum was invaded by four thieves who made off with jewelry worth $102 million. The incident raised doubts about the credibility of the world’s most visited museum as guardian of its countless works.
Authorities acknowledged that security camera coverage of the museum’s exterior walls was insufficient and that there was no coverage of the balcony involved in the theft.
Following the theft, French authorities said the Louvre would put in place additional security measures, including anti-intrusion devices and security barriers on nearby public roads, by the end of the year.
A report by France’s public watchdog, known as the Cour des Comptes, said the museum’s failure to modernize its infrastructure was exacerbated by excessive spending on artworks.
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