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.
Wir sind weiterhin mit ca. 100 Einsatzkräften und Kolleg. der @Berliner_Fw in #Mitte im Einsatz. Neben dem unfassbaren maritimen Schaden, wurden nach derzeitigem Stand 2 Menschen durch Glassplitter verletzt.Bitte umfahren Sie den Bereich weiterhin.
— Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) December 16, 2022
^tsm
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.
All 400 guests who were staying at the Radisson hotel have been evacuated. They are waiting to be transported to another hotel in Berlin. #berlinaquarium pic.twitter.com/VHh8njgQlG
— Anna Saraste (@AnnSaras) December 16, 2022
Pictures and videos from the aftermath have been surfacing across social media as guests at the hotel document the devastating experience.
Bro what the fuck the fish tank of my hotel just exploded in the middle of the night WHATS GOING ON. #radissonblu #Berlin #aquarium #Explosion pic.twitter.com/Od8iS9YxBN
— Niklas Scheele (@niklas_scheele) December 16, 2022
Still a lot of water coming out #berlin #radissonblu #radisson #hotel #aquarium pic.twitter.com/8ojyFvrH1U
— Larissa (@lararimmer) December 16, 2022
❗️💥Berlin :Das riesige Aquarium im Dom Aquaree explodiert! pic.twitter.com/E9ym4W3Eca
— ModeVirus (@modevirus) December 16, 2022
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.