Several hundred books in the library of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the Louvre Museum in Paris were damaged by a water leak in November, the management of the cultural institution announced today, French media reported.
"The damage currently affects between 300 and 400 books. We are in the process of making a complete inventory," museum representative Francis Stenbock told French online television BFMTV, adding that each book is being dried, page by page, using absorbent paper.
He added that these were mostly archaeological journals and important books, but not particularly valuable works.
The pipe that caused the leak, which was supposed to remain closed, is part of a system that must be completely replaced, Stenbock said.
The Louvre Museum's reputation was already tarnished in October by a spectacular robbery that took place in broad daylight, when jewelry worth an estimated 88 million euros was stolen.
The robbery sparked a major debate in France about security lapses at the world's most visited museum. Four people were arrested in connection with the investigation, but the stolen goods were not recovered.
Bonus video:
