Berlin hotel's giant AquaDom aquarium holding 1,500 fish explodes

The world’s largest free-standing aquarium at the Radisson hotel in Berlin shattered sending one million litres of water and 1,500 fish flooding into the building’s lobby and the surrounding streets, early this morning.

Berlin’s fire brigade said two people were injured by glass splinters when the 16m high AquaDom collapsed, while 35 people were evacuated by emergency services. Some 400 guests are believed to have been staying at the hotel.

The aquarium shattered at about 4.45am GMT (5:45am local time). The fire service has said the force of the water has “badly damaged the building” and left debris across the surrounding streets. Radisson has confirmed that the hotel will be closed until further notice.

The aquarium, which ran through the centre of the building was a popular tourist attraction and had a lift running up its core. It housed around 100 species of marine life, the majority of which are thought to have died.

An eyewitness told Berlin-based broadcaster rbb "I heard a very loud crash and saw that the large aquarium was broken. I then looked ahead and saw that there was a lot of furniture lying on the street and then I realised that the aquarium had just burst and the things had been washed out."

Berlin’s mayor Franziska Giffey described a scene of “immense destruction”. She said that it was a blessing no one had been seriously injured and added: "If all this hadn't happened at 5:45 am, but just an hour later. Then we would now have to report terrible human damage."

Berlin police have said there is no evidence that criminality contributed to the collapse of the aquarium.