Water Leak Incident at Louvre Museum
A water leak at the Louvre Museum in Paris has affected between 300 and 400 items, primarily books. The incident occurred in the Egyptian department, impacting volumes described as Egyptology journals and scientific documentation dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Francis Steinbock, the museum's deputy administrator, confirmed that no precious books or heritage artifacts were damaged, and no irreparable losses have been identified in these collections.
Cause and Remediation
Mr. Steinbock stated that the issue causing the leak, discovered in late November, had been known for several years, with repairs scheduled for the upcoming year. The affected volumes will undergo a drying process, be sent to a bookbinder for restoration, and subsequently returned to the museum's shelves.
Prior Incidents and Audit Report
This leak marks the third significant issue for the museum within recent months. In November, structural weaknesses led to the partial closure of a gallery housing Greek vases and offices. Previously, on October 19, four individuals reportedly stole jewels valued at €88 million ($102 million) from the museum. These jewels have not been recovered, prompting the museum to relocate some of its valuable items to the Bank of France.
An October report by France's public audit body, the Cour des Comptes, noted the museum's expenditure on artwork, suggesting it was potentially at the expense of building maintenance and renovation.