A water leak on Nov. 26 damaged 300‑400 items in the Louvre’s Egyptian Department, including research journals and scientific documentation, museum officials confirmed.
Damaged Works at the Louvre
According to France24, the leak on Wednesday, 26 November damaged between 300 and 400 items in the Egyptian department. The damaged pieces included Egyptology journals and scientific documentation. Deputy director Francis Steinbock said the works date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are valuable but not unique; no cultural‑heritage artifacts were harmed.
Causes of the Water Leak
The leak stemmed from an accidental opening of a valve in the heating and ventilation system. Water seeped through the wing’s ceiling, causing the damage. The Louvre plans an internal investigation. The obsolete system, offline for months, is slated for replacement in September 2026. Damaged documents will be dried, restored, and returned.
Previous Theft at the Louvre
In October, four armed with angle grinders broke into the Apollo Gallery and seized nine items in minutes. The thieves lost one item – the crown of Napoleon’s wife Eugenie – which was later recovered. BBC reports state the stolen artifacts were worth 88 million euros (373 million PLN).