After jewel heist, Louvre hit by major water leak that soaks 400 Egyptian treasures

Paris: The Louvre Museum, still grappling with the shock of a multimillion-dollar jewel heist, has been hit by another crisis: a water leak that damaged between 300 and 400 works in its Egyptian department, museum officials confirmed.

The incident occurred on November 26, almost exactly a month after Napoleonic-era jewellery worth $102 million was stolen in broad daylight.

According to deputy general manager Francis Steinbock, the leak originated from a valve in an obsolete heating and ventilation system located in the Mollien wing.

The system, which had been shut off for months and was scheduled for replacement next September, malfunctioned when a valve unexpectedly opened, allowing water to seep through the ceiling into the Egyptian antiquities library.

The damaged items include archaeological periodicals and Egyptology journals dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries — reference materials regularly used by scholars and students.

While calling them “extremely useful,” Steinbock stressed that they were not unique, adding:

“At this stage, we have no irreparable and definitive losses in these collections. No heritage artefacts have been affected.”

Restoration Efforts in Progress

Teams are currently drying and stabilizing the affected works before sending them to specialised bookbinders for restoration. The museum has opened an internal investigation into how the leak occurred despite prior warnings about the aging system.

Heist Investigation Expands Internationally

The leak comes as authorities continue probing the high-profile jewel heist that took place in October. Four suspects have been charged, but the stolen jewellery — including royal tiaras, necklaces and earrings — remains missing.

Latest investigative updates suggest French authorities are now coordinating with European anti-smuggling units, fearing the pieces may have already been trafficked abroad, dismantled, or sold to private collectors — a common challenge in heritage theft cases.

Growing Concerns Over Louvre’s Infrastructure

The twin crises have renewed criticism of the museum’s deteriorating infrastructure. To fund long-overdue structural upgrades, the Louvre plans to implement a 45% ticket price increase, expected to raise an additional $23 million annually.

Despite these challenges, the world’s most visited museum remains a global magnet, drawing 8.7 million visitors in 2024, 69% of them from overseas.