The mega aquarium at Berlin’s Sea Life housed 1,500 fish, only a few were able to be rescued after the 16-meter Aquadome at the Radisson Blu Hotel broke. Two people were injured by broken glass. Now there are the first clues to the cause of the drama.
Was it an attack by terrorists or radical animal rights activists? No, according to the Berlin police. Material fatigue could have been the cause of the Aquadome bursting. “Of course, the investigation into the cause has not yet been completed, but the first signs point to material fatigue,” said Berlin Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger (SPD).
“If the aquarium is faulty, it suddenly bursts”
According to the fire service, the gigantic tank with a million liters of water was destroyed in a very short time. “If the aquarium is defective, it suddenly bursts open,” says a spokesman for the fire brigade. “It’s not a small crack where the water is leaking out, but the whole aquarium suddenly burst open.” Of the 1,500 fish, only a few could be saved and they were taken to the Berlin Zoo.
According to the fire service, a large part of the water probably ran through the doors on the ground floor into the street and into the canal. Not much water was found in the cellars. The destroyed ground floor was searched for people with rescue dogs. Due to the considerable damage, the guests of the surrounding hotel also had to leave the building, according to a spokesman for the fire service. There were still nearly 300 people in the hotel. According to “Bild”, the neighboring GDR museum also suffered water damage.
Aquarium was recently upgraded
Fish of more than 100 different species lived in the aquarium. The aquarium was filled with one million liters of salt water, which is 1,000 cubic meters of water weighing 1,000 tons. According to the information, the aquarium has been thoroughly modernized by the summer of 2020 and the elevator inside has also been renovated.
“Shards were everywhere”
Guests at the Berlin-Mitte hotel unanimously reported an explosion-like bang. This happened between 5:30 AM and 5:45 AM. “We were really scared,” said one young woman. Initially, there was no information from the hotel, several guests said. The reception was not reachable via landline. “After 8:00 a.m. we were told to leave.” “You saw that things fell apart,” said a young hotel guest. Karin Wicki and Sandra Hoffmann from Switzerland described: “Everything in the interior has been destroyed. There are dead fish. All the furniture has been destroyed. The windows have been smashed. Shards everywhere.” It was not until shortly before 9:00 am that they were told to leave the hotel.
Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) thanked the Sea Life forces. “Bad news from the bursting aquarium in Berlin Cathedral,” she wrote on Twitter on Friday. “I would like to thank the emergency services for their efforts and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
PETA wants to file a complaint
Animal protection organization PETA wants to take legal action against those responsible in Berlin. “We will press charges against those responsible because the lives of some 1,500 fish were apparently carelessly handled,” said a spokesman for the organization. The aquarium’s destruction is a “massive man-made tragedy”. It should not be rebuilt.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
