A LEAK in the Louvre has damaged hundreds of books just weeks after the heist of the century.
The troubling incident in the Egyptian antiquities department’s library has sparking fresh concern over the deteriorating state of the world’s most-visited museum.
A water leak at the Louvre has caused damage to hundreds of booksCredit: Alamy
The damaged occurred in the Egyptian antiquities department’s libraryCredit: Getty
Between 300 to 400 books are estimated to have been damaged but the count is ongoing, a Louvre administrator said.
Francis Steinbock told a broadcaster the leak affected one of the three rooms of the Egyptian antiquities department’s library.
The volumes lost were not precious books.
Mr Steinbock acknowledged the problem had been known for years and said repairs were scheduled for September next year.
The leak took place last month but the devastation was only revealed today.
The condition of the Louvre’s infrastructure has been a sore point for the famous museum recently.
Last month, the Campana gallery – which houses ancient Greek ceramics – was temporarily closed due to structural weaknesses.
It comes after a after they stormed the Paris landmark and stole tens of millions worth of jewellery.
The saw “highly organised” thieves scale the side of the Louvre before smashing inside and making off with a stash of some of the world’s premier treasures.
A cherry-picker gave access to the first floor, and they climbed onto the balcony.
They then used a glass cutter to break through the window – with two of the gang dashing inside while one stayed as lookout.
The gang are thought to have been equipped with power tools – including chainsaws – to smash their way in and bust open two display cabinets.
Over the course of just seven minutes, the thieves grabbed nine glittering pieces from the Napoleon and Empress Joséphine collection – but dropped one as they tore off.
Among the treasures ripped from display cases was the famed Eugénie Crown — a dazzling Second Empire piece created in 1855 and encrusted with thousands of diamonds and emeralds.
Last month, the Campana gallery – which houses ancient Greek ceramics – was temporarily closed due to structural weaknessesCredit: Alamy
The thieves then fled on TMax scooters towards the A6 motorway.
but there remains no trace of the stolen jewels which were reportedly set to be sold on the dark web.
The gang reportedly approached the Israeli security company CGI Group and offered them part of the looted crown jewels over the darknet, according to BILD .
The head of CGI Group claimed the business was contacted by a representative of the heist gang just five days after the robbery.
CGI chief Zvika Nave said: “Five days after the robbery at the Louvre Museum, a person who pretended to represent the thieves contacted us via the official CGI Group website.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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