Sea water is leaking from two cracks in Europe’s biggest fish tank after a fire destroyed the museum that houses the aquarium, officials said on Wednesday.
The fate of the 5Â 000 fish that live inside the tank isn’t known, but officials said a system of pipes that oxygenates the water, letting fish breathe, was damaged.
The aquarium counts among its specimens a nearly 200kg, 1,8m-long sunfish, one of the largest boned fish in the world.
A fire broke out on Tuesday night at the North Sea museum in northern Denmark and caused two cracks in the 45cm-thick glass. No one was injured.
“There are now cracks in two small side windows,” said biologist Henrik Flintegaard. “The water is pouring out and the water level has sunk by 3m.”
The elliptical tank is 8m deep.
Flintegaard said only firefighters have been allowed inside the ruined building for safety reasons.
“A colleague of mine was allowed on a fire engine lift and saw the tank from above. He could see some fish swimming around,” said Flintegaard.
He said with the oxygen pipes damaged, the first priority is to repair them or lay a new pipe to keep the fish alive.
“Otherwise the fish will be asphyxiated,” the biologist said.
Firefighter Mogens Pedersen said sea water that leaked from cracks in the glass tank was found in two cellars beneath the 4,5-million liter fish tank. Pumps and filters have been set up in the cellar to remove the water.
The museum, a popular tourist attraction in Hirsthals, 270km north of Copenhagen, was closed for cleaning when the fire broke out shortly after 6pm (5pm GMT) in the cafeteria section where workers had been repairing the floor. The cause of the fire was not known.
The museum, which was scheduled to reopen after Christmas, averages nearly 280Â 000 visitors annually.
Most come to see the 100-million kroner ($16-million) oceanarium, which opened in 1998. The tank features thousands of herring, mackerel, garfish and horse mackerel found off the coast of Denmark.
The museum, which itself dates to 1984, also serves as a research centre. — Sapa-AP
On the net: www.nordsoemuseet.dk/gb/default.asp