Louvre Water Leak Damages 300-400 Books in Egyptian Wing

A water leak in late November damaged between 300 and 400 books in the Egyptian antiquities department at the Louvre Museum in Paris, the latest incident to highlight ongoing infrastructure challenges at the world's most visited cultural institution.

The leak, discovered on November 26, affected one of three rooms in the department's library, located in the Mollien wing. Museum officials attributed the damage to an accidental opening of a valve in the aging heating and ventilation system, which caused water to seep through the ceiling. The impacted items include journals and scientific documentation from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily used by Egyptologists for research. Louvre deputy administrator Francis Steinbock told BFM TV that the count of affected works was still ongoing but emphasized that no unique or precious heritage artifacts were involved. "These are extremely useful but by no means unique," Steinbock said, adding, "At this stage, we have no irreparable and definitive losses in these collections."

The books are undergoing a restoration process: they will be dried, sent to a bookbinder for repair, and eventually returned to the shelves. The museum...