The Berlin Aquarium with 1,500 tropical fish has burst open

A giant aquarium in central Berlin ruptured on Friday, causing a wave of devastation in and around the tourist attraction Sea Life, German police said on Friday.

Glass and other debris was swept out of the building, which also houses a hotel and cafes, when 1 million liters of water poured from the 25-metre-tall aquarium just before 6am

The Berlin fire brigade said two people were slightly injured and rescue dogs are ready to search the building for those trapped.

It was speculated that overnight freezing temperatures as low as minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit caused the tank to rupture, which then exploded under the weight of the water. Police said the cause of the incident is still under investigation but there is no evidence it was the result of an assault.

AP

AP

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AP

AP

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Witness Gwendolin Szyszkowitz told German news channel n-tv that she heard a loud bang and initially feared a bomb had exploded.

Operators say the aquarium has the largest cylindrical tank in the world and contained 1,500 tropical fish of 80 different species before the incident. The aquarium, which was last modernized in 2020, is a major tourist magnet in Berlin.

The 10 minute elevator ride through the tank was one of the highlights of the attraction.