Overview
- A Cairo University assessment identified a fault running through the entrance and burial chambers that is channeling rainwater into the site.
- The tomb is hewn into Esna shale, a moisture‑sensitive rock that expands and contracts, raising the risk of deformation and potential rock bursting.
- Researchers say the 1994 flash flood marked a turning point by opening new fissures, elevating humidity and fostering fungi that damage murals.
- Lead author Sayed Hemada says the tomb is not expected to collapse soon, yet warns of long‑term structural risk without targeted conservation.
- Experts report limited preparedness for future floods and fractured surrounding mountains that could shed rock blocks, urging load reduction, supports and humidity control.