Berlin’s aquarium explodes: Vets try to save fish

After a massive aquarium explosion in Berlin, vets and rescue workers scrambled to save as many tropical fish as possible.

• Read more: [EN IMAGES] A giant fish tank exploded in a hotel in Berlin

Despite their best efforts, 1,500 fish living inside the AquaDom tourist attraction died after the disaster.

“It’s a great tragedy that 1,500 fish have no chance of survival,” said Almut Neumann, the municipal official responsible for environmental issues in Berlin’s Mitte district. “The aim of the afternoon was clearly to save the fish in the remaining tanks.”

Around 5:45 a.m. Friday, about 264,000 gallons of water gushed out of the Aquadome, causing extensive damage to the building, which included the Radisson Blu Hotel, cafes and a chocolate factory. Firefighters said two people suffered minor injuries in the flood.

The Berlin Mitte district government confirmed on Twitter that some of the struggling fish at the bottom of the aquarium may still survive. The aquarium had 80 species of fish, including a blue tang and a clown fish.

As crews began cleaning up the debris, officials, along with veterinarians, rescued 400 to 500 small fish from individual tanks under the hotel lobby, which were not getting enough oxygen because they were suspended.

The fish were transferred to other aquariums in the Sea Life Aquarium.

Several organizations, including the Berlin Zoo, have volunteered to collect the remaining fish.

– With information from the “New York Post”.