Investigation into Massive Berlin Aquarium Collapse Closed with Cause Undetermined

Expert report presents three potential explanations including a failed adhesive seam, a dent in the base, or mishandling of refill process post-2020 modernization but fails to establish satisfactory evidence; all but a few fish in the tank perished.

• The investigation into the collapse of the AquaDom aquarium in Berlin has closed, with prosecutors citing insufficient evidence to determine a clear cause of the tank's rupture.
• Expert report from engineer Christian Bonten presented three potential explanations: a failed adhesive seam, a dent in the base from the tank's 2020 modernization, or mishandling of the refill process after modernization, leading to excessively dry acrylic walls.
• With no confirmed cause, prosecutors closed the case due to a lack of leads on who could be responsible and emphasized there had never been suspicion of deliberate sabotage.
• The massive collapse, which occurred on December 16, resulted in 264,000 gallons of water flooding the hotel lobby and surrounding street, causing minor injuries to two individuals.
• Nearly all 1,500 fish within the tank died in the incident; however, a few fish at the bottom of the tank survived, and 400 to 500 small fish from a separate aquarium housed under the hotel lobby were relocated to an unaffected neighboring tank. There are currently no plans to reconstruct the aquarium, which initially opened in 2003.

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