• A water leak damaged 300 to 400 books in the Louvre's Egyptian department.
• The incident underscores concerns over the museum's aging infrastructure.
• Repairs to the faulty heating and ventilation system are scheduled for 2026.
• The leak follows a major jewel heist that exposed security flaws at the museum.
• The Louvre plans to raise ticket prices to fund necessary structural improvements.

A significant water leak occurred at the Louvre Museum on November 26, damaging between 300 and 400 items, primarily books, in the Egyptian antiquities department. This incident highlights concerns about the museum's aging infrastructure, especially following a recent jewel heist that raised similar alarms. Deputy administrator Francis Steinbock noted that "no heritage artefacts have been affected" by this damage, as the books consisted of "Egyptology journals" and "scientific documentation" dating back to the late 19th and 20th centuries, according to Channel News Asia, SCMP, BBC, and Le Monde.

The leak was reportedly caused by the accidental opening of a valve within the museum's outdated heating and ventilation system, which had been known to pose risks for years. Repairs to this archaic system are not scheduled until September 2026, further complicating the museum's operational integrity. “At this stage, we have no irreparable and definitive losses in these collections," Steinbock remarked, addressing concerns over the museum's condition, as cited by India Times and CBS News.

This incident marks the third major issue for the Louvre in recent months, following an October heist where thieves stole jewels valued at approximately $102 million. The security breaches highlighted by the theft have led to increased scrutiny of the museum's infrastructure, which has been deemed "completely obsolete." In response to funding needs, the Louvre plans to increase ticket prices for most non-EU visitors by 45% to support structural improvements, as reported by AA, India Times, and Channel News Asia.