A huge aquarium containing more than a thousand fish has exploded at a hotel in Berlin.
Photos show huge sheets of broken glass strew across the lobby of the hotel, with visitors saying they initially thought a bomb had gone off after they heard loud bangs as the tank exploded just before 6am. You can see the devastation caused here:
The complex, which is located in central Berlin, houses a Radisson Blu hotel, a museum, some shops and the world’s largest freestanding cylindrical aquarium, which stood at a whopping 82-foot.
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It is believed the aquarium - known as the AquaDom - held around a million litres of water and was home to some 1,500 tropical fish.
A spokesperson for the Berlin fire service said emergency responders had been unable to access the ground floor due to the amount of debris thrown out during the incident and that search and rescue dogs had been sent to the scene.
Berlin Police said on Twitter: “In addition to the unbelievable maritime damage… two people were injured by glass splinters.”
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Around 1,500 fish are said to have died in the incident and hundreds of hotel guests had to be evacuated.
DW correspondent Anna Saraste tweeted: "All 400 guests who were staying at the Radisson hotel have been evacuated.
"They are waiting to be transported to another hotel in Berlin."
Police have said the incident is being investigated but it’s thought the recent freezing temperatures could have caused the tank to break.
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In a post on social media, one guest wrote: “The tank in our hotel blew? The inside has been blown outwards. Still a lot of water coming out.
“Not too sure what’s happening but there’s a lot of emergency services doing their best. Being evacuated now.”
Another visitor wrote: “Staying in the Radisson Collection in Berlin, where the huge aquarium has shattered and flooded the hotel lobby. Apparently nobody has been hurt, fingers crossed that is true. I was woken up at 4:30 ish by a rumbling beneath us.”
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The Radisson said: "The aquarium of the AquaDom Berlin which is located in the Radisson Collection hotel, Berlin, collapsed.
"As far as we know to date, no guests were injured and together with the authorities we are looking into the cause of the incident.
"We have immediately closed the hotel until further notice and are relocating guests."
Topics: World News
Claire Reid