The largest freestanding cylindrical aquarium in the world is destroyed, causing a flooding catastrophe in Berlin and the death of 1,500 fish.
A 260,000-gallon tank at Sea Life was destroyed by the accident on Friday morning; the aquarium is part of a larger complex that also includes a museum, cafes, and a Radisson hotel.
Imagine the tragic scene that was left when the enormous tank broke; it was 46 feet high.
All of the water, glass, and, regrettably, fish poured out into the plaza outside and flooded the hotel lobby, washing it out onto the street.
Surprisingly, despite the presence of over 100 emergency personnel and rescue dogs, there were no fatalities. 350 hotel guests were evacuated, and a few people suffered minor cuts from flying glass.
What caused the catastrophe is still a matter of investigation. Officials have yet to identify a clear cause. According to a hotel guest, “The whole aquarium burst and what’s left is total devastation. Lots of dead fish, debris.”
