Report on the gigantic Berlin aquarium provides new details: Did a “tooth” cause the Aquadome to burst?

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In the early morning of December 16, 2022, a million liters of water flowed into the lobby of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin and onto the street. 1,300 fish were washed onto the floor between large shards of plexiglass. After the incident, there was much speculation about what caused the shattered giant aquarium – now there appears to be a clue.

Plastics expert and engineer Christian Bonten presented his report on Wednesday. He was able to rule out many theories: “I didn’t miss anything, I looked through the data and found everything I was looking for,” says Bonten – just no clear cause.

Material was in top condition

The engineer can refute several theories, as “Spiegel” reports. For example, that of material fatigue. “The material was still in top condition,” says Bonten.

According to the plastics expert, sabotage with firearms, hammers or ice picks is excluded. Bonten also thinks that damage from cleaning products is unlikely, since divers checked the aquarium almost daily. The engineer also rules out an earthquake, a skewed concrete foundation or cold damage.

Bonten finds one more clue: “I call it the tooth. “This is a very important piece for me,” he says in his report. This refers to a triangular piece of acrylic glass that was still in the concrete foundation. “The whole thing turned upside down,” says the expert. Below the “tooth” the shards were mostly distributed in one direction. “I’m sure there was an impulse on the other side of the tooth.”

Renovation in 2019 could be responsible

According to Bonten, this impulse was a water leak. Opposite the “tooth” a crack had formed in the upper half of the plexiglass from which water had escaped. The aquarium destabilized and collapsed.

There is no obvious cause for this impulse. Bonten speculates that the 2019 renovation could be responsible. During the work, the mortar was removed and poured again, which, according to the operator, may have caused a crack in the material. In addition, water was drained before the renovation, which may have caused the acrylic glass to dry out. This could promote the formation of cracks.

“As an expert, I say that I have done my job – but of course I also have emotions and I would also like to have found the cause,” Bonten admits. According to him, another aquarium could be built today, but according to Union Investment that will not happen. (gs)

Source: Blick