A water leak at the Louvre museum in Paris has damaged hundreds of works, just weeks after thieves stole priceless French crown jewels from the museum in broad daylight.
The museum's deputy administrator, Francis Steinbock, said between 300-400 works, mostly books, were affected by the leak - and that the count was ongoing.
Mr. Steinbock stated that the damage occurred in the Egyptian department, affecting volumes often consulted by Egyptologists, although he assured that no valuable books were harmed.
The source of the leak had been known for years and repairs are scheduled for next year, according to Mr. Steinbock.
The damaged books will be dried, sent for restoration, and returned to their shelves once fixed. Steinbock characterized the affected items as Egyptology journals and scientific documentation from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
No heritage artefacts have been affected by this damage, he assured, emphasizing that there are no losses that are irreparable or definitive in these collections.
This leak marks the third major incident for the museum, which is the most visited in the world, within as many months. Prior issues included structural weaknesses leading to partial gallery closures and a burglary where thieves stole €88 million worth of jewels.
These jewels remain missing, prompting the museum to relocate some of its most treasured pieces to the Bank of France for security reasons.
A report by France's public audit body criticized the Louvre for excessive spending on artworks, which some argue has detracted from needed maintenance and renovations.
