Hundreds of books damaged after water leak at Louvre

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 BBC writes.

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.

Steinbock told French media the damage occurred in the Egyptian department.

The problem that caused the leak, which was discovered in late November, had been known for years, and repairs are scheduled for next year, Steinbock added.

The volumes will be dried, sent to a bookbinder and restored before being returned to the shelves.

Steinbock described the books as “Egyptology journals” and “scientific documentation” from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

He added that at this stage, “we have no irreparable and definitive losses in these collections.”