King Tutankhamun’s tomb discovered after remaining hidden for over 3000 years. Credit: EditorfromMars / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
The tomb of Tutankhamun in Luxor is showing a risk of collapse more than a century after its discovery in 1922. Cracks have spread across its ceilings, layers of rock are peeling away under rising humidity, and fungal growth has begun to fade the once-vivid murals that decorate the walls.
Archaeologists report that the tomb, one of the smallest royal burials in the Valley of the Kings, has developed a major fracture running through the ceiling of both the burial chamber and its entrance. The fissures have allowed rainwater to seep inside, further weakening the delicate structure.
Experts link the problem to the Esna shale rock used in construction — a material known to expand and contract with shifts in humidity, making it highly unstable and prone to deformation.
Flash floods leave lasting scars on the Valley of the Kings
West of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings is home to dozens of royal tombs carved deep into the limestone mountains. Many have suffered erosion from recurring flash floods that strike the arid region. In 1994, a catastrophic flood submerged the valley in muddy water, raising humidity and triggering fungal outbreaks that damaged paintings throughout several tombs, including Tutankhamun’s.
Study identifies structural weakening after 1994 flood
A study published in Nature’s npj Heritage Science by Sayed Hemeda, Professor of Preservation of Architectural Heritage at Cairo University, identified that same flood as the turning point.
According to Hemeda, it caused water ingress, increased humidity, and encouraged fungal growth that ravaged the wall paintings. He warned that the tomb’s structure has since lost much of its integrity and faces extreme pressure beyond the strength of the Esna shale.
Hemeda recommended stabilizing the tomb by regulating its internal climate and reinforcing the ceiling to reduce stress. He called for urgent conservation measures to prevent further collapse and protect one of Egypt’s most iconic monuments.
A fragile legacy of the boy king
Tutankhamun’s golden mask. Credit: Roland Unger / CC BY-SA 3.0
Discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter on November 4, 1922, Tutankhamun’s tomb — designated KV62 — remains a landmark of modern archaeology. Modest in size, it was likely not intended for a pharaoh but hastily repurposed following the young king’s sudden death.
Inside, Carter uncovered more than 5,000 artefacts, including the golden mask, gilded statues, and ornate coffins that reshaped global understanding of ancient Egypt.
Experts demand urgent risk management and monitoring
But experts warn that heritage alone cannot preserve it. Mohamed Atia Hawash, Professor of Architectural Conservation at Cairo University, said the valley’s geological makeup and deep fissures across surrounding mountains make many tombs structurally vulnerable. He cautioned that “a disaster could strike at any moment” if urgent action is not taken.
🇪🇬Tutankhamun’s tomb in Luxor is rapidly deteriorating due to cracks, water damage, and fungal growth. Experts attribute the damage to rainwater, rock expansion, and past floods, warning of possible collapse and calling for urgent preservation action. pic.twitter.com/iqpwR620uY
— NewsAspect (@newsaspect) October 21, 2025
Hawash added that Egypt has the tools to monitor risks scientifically but lacks consistent preventive planning. “The absence of a culture of prevention means we only react after disaster strikes,” he explained.
Calls for a national conservation response
Emad Mahdi of the Egyptian Archaeologists’ Union echoed those concerns, urging the formation of a high-level committee to assess the site, document the damage, and prepare an emergency report.
“A high-level expert committee should be formed immediately to analyse the site geologically and archaeologically,” he said. “Where are the regular reports tracking threatened sites and outlining intervention and protection measures?”
Experts agree: unless immediate steps are taken, Tutankhamun’s tomb — the world’s most famous royal burial — could face irreversible damage from the very earth that has preserved it for over 3,000 years.
