Nearly 500 fragments cleared from a Berlin hotel

Nearly all 500 acrylic fragments have been documented, mapped and temporarily stored on pallets in Heiligengeistgasse in recent weeks, said Fabian Hellbusch, spokesman for the building owner, at the request of the German news agency.

Large parts that are still in the lobby are currently being cut up and transported outside for interim storage. For the past few days, fragments have been gradually removed from Berlin. “We are confident that the Heiligengeistgasse will be largely cleared by mid-March,” said Hellbusch.

The opening of the passage would also allow the first openings of shops that have not been so badly affected, it is said. “Our goal is the fastest possible partial opening of individual stores, subject to official approvals.” The DDR Museum is also working towards the earliest possible date for the reopening.

The spokesman said removing the fragments from the neighborhood was a logistical complex. The parts would be trucked to a warehouse in Brandenburg, where they would be examined by experts and the investigation into the cause continued. “For this purpose, the fragments in the warehouse are combined according to the mapping carried out in such a way that the overall picture can draw new or further conclusions about the cause of the accident.”

On December 16, 2022, the 16-meter high aquarium burst. The several centimeters thick acrylic elements of the outer cylinder collapsed in the lobby. About a million liters of water flowed into the hotel lobby and the street, among other things. Two people were slightly injured. Nearly all of the 1,500 fish in the tank died. There was significant damage, several shops in the Domaquarée building were hit. (SDA)

Source: Blick