The famous Louvre Museum in Paris, the one which made headlines for a major jewel heist, is in the news again. And this time, it is due to water leak damage. It seems that the problems won’t be stopping anytime soon for the authorities at the museum. The leak has apparently damaged hundreds of works. Here is everything you need to know.
Water Leak Damages Hundreds Of Works At The Louvre Museum
According to a report by the BBC, a water leak has damaged hundreds of works in the famous museum in Paris. The count of the damaged work is ongoing, but the Louvre Museum’s estimate stands between 300 and 400 affected pieces. Most of them were books. Reportedly, the damage occurred in the Egyptian department. These books, described as Egyptology journals, were used by researchers.
As per a report by Global Times, the damaged items date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These books will now be dried, sent to a bookbinder, and restored before the authorities place them back on the shelves. The incident resulted from a water leak in the hydraulic system of the library’s heating and ventilation equipment. An accidental opening of a valve in the heating system allowed water to seep through the ceiling where the books were stored.
Also Read: Paris: After Theft, Louvre To Hike Non-European Visitor Fees By 45% To Fund Security & Repairs
No Internal Investigation To Take Place
According to a report by the BBC, the issue was discovered in late November, and repairs were scheduled for next year. Fortunately, no heritage or rare artefacts were damaged due to the leak. Moreover, the Louvre Museum has maintained that there will be no internal investigation regarding the incident. It should be noted that the water leak is now the latest issue faced by the museum, which is one of the most visited in the world.
In November, structural weakness prompted authorities to partially close one of its galleries. On October 19, four thieves ran off with the French Crown Jewels valued at approximately €88 million (₹921 crore approx.) The jewels have still not been recovered. The Louvre has also moved some of its most precious jewels to the Bank of France. And now, there is water leak damage. All these issues point to the fact that the authorities really need to step up not only their security but also give importance to restoration and maintenance work.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Daniel Ferreira-Leites Ciccarino