Louvre closes rooms after ‘major water leak,’ artworks reportedly damaged

ISTANBUL

A “major water leak” at the Louvre Museum has forced the closure of several exhibition rooms, with some artworks “apparently damaged,” French broadcaster BFMTV reported Friday.

The leak, described by the museum’s technical teams as an “emergency situation,” occurred overnight between Thursday and Friday in Room 707, known as the Duchatel Room, on the first floor of the Denon wing.

The room houses works from the 15th and 16th centuries, including canvases by Bernardino Luini such as Christ Blessing, Savior of the World, as well as Calvary with Saint Dominic in Prayer by Fra Angelico. It also features The Triumph of French Painting: Apotheosis of Poussin, Le Sueur and Le Brun by 19th-century French painter Charles Meynier.

According to the report, the leak was discovered late Thursday night and was initially classified internally as a technical incident before being escalated to an emergency. The water is believed to have come from the floor above, possibly due to a faulty pipe, BFMTV said.

Scaffolding has been installed as a precautionary measure, and the museum’s website indicates that Rooms 706 to 708, including the Salon Carre, are currently closed to visitors. The ceiling in the affected area has sustained significant damage, requiring the space to be shut down indefinitely.

A source cited by BFMTV said some artworks were “apparently damaged,” though an expert assessment has been launched to determine the extent of the impact.

The incident comes less than three months after another major flooding episode at the Louvre on Nov. 26, when “dirty water” inundated the Egyptian Antiquities library, damaging books and archival documents.

The latest setback adds to mounting challenges at the world’s most visited museum, which has recently faced labor tensions and internal disputes.

Unions renewed a strike notice earlier this week and called for a general assembly amid ongoing criticism of the museum’s leadership.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati is reportedly considering leadership changes at the institution, including the possible dismissal of Louvre President Laurence des Cars, according to political and union sources.

Museum officials have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the extent of the damage.