The world's largest cylindrical aquarium burst open in Berlin, flooding a main road and killing 1,500 exotic fish

Berlin's 'AquaDome' - the largest free-standing cylindrical aquarium in the world and home to 1,500 tropical fish - burst open Friday (December 16) morning and flooded the Radisson Blu hotel and nearby streets in the German capital.

The massive aquarium stood 46 ft (14 metres) tall and contained over a million litres of water, and was the centrepiece attraction of the Radisson Blu hotel foyer in the DomAquaree leisure complex in Berlin. Guests could take a 10-minute glass-walled elevator up the aquarium to see the life inside.

The Berlin Police reported "incredible maritime damage", and two people were injured by glass shards. Debris from the shattering flooded out onto the streets along with over 100 varieties of marine life. 

Reports from Reuters say emergency responders had been unable to access the ground floor of the building due to the debris. Search and rescue dogs were being sent to the scene.

Around 350 people who had been staying at the hotel in the complex were asked to pack their belongings and leave the building. Buses were sent to the complex to provide shelter for people leaving the hotel as outside temperatures in Berlin were around -7 degrees Celsius.

Pictures and videos from the aftermath have been surfacing across social media as guests at the hotel document the devastating experience.

According to reports at the time of its construction, it cost about €12.8 million (£11.2 million or Rs 1.1 billion) to build.

Following a modernisation process in May 2021, the aquarium was also fitted with a clear-walled elevator for use by visitors. Speculation suggests the renovation work may have been responsible for the accident.