By Blessing Nweke
Hundreds of works at the Louvre Museum in Paris were damaged last week after flooding caused a pipe to burst inside one of the institution’s Egyptian antiquities libraries, a senior administrator confirmed. Francis Steinbock, the museum’s deputy general administrator, told French broadcaster BFM TV that between 300 and 400 items were affected, though a full assessment is still underway.
The flooding impacted one of the three rooms that make up the library within the Egyptian antiquities department. Among the damaged materials are books—some dating back several centuries, including from the late 19th century. Steinbock said many of the works became soaked, prompting a painstaking restoration process. Conservators are now drying the books page by page using Buffard paper and specialized plants to slowly dehumidify the materials.
Also affected were visual periodicals and archaeology journals frequently consulted by Egyptologists, researchers, and Louvre staff. Steinbock noted that the incident occurred in an area already scheduled for a major renovation of the museum’s heating and ventilation systems, with work expected to begin in September 2026.
The water-related damage marks yet another setback for the world’s most visited museum, which is still dealing with the aftermath of a dramatic jewel heist that took place on October 19. During that robbery, four thieves moved through the museum in under eight minutes, stealing eight Crown Jewels valued at roughly €88 million ($102 million).
The investigation into the theft remains active. According to Paris prosecutors, four men suspected of involvement have been arrested and charged with robbery by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. A woman was also detained in October on preliminary charges of complicity in theft, though she has denied participating. DNA traces found at the scene or on related items helped guide the arrests, authorities said.
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