Dubai Mall aquarium cracked and leaking

Dubai: The Dubai Mall aquarium was closed on Thursday, due to reports of a leak, Gulf News has learned from eye witnesses.

Civil Defence confirmed that the aquarium has a minor crack and that water is leaking.

A number of teams from Civil Defence and the Mall maintenance attended the scene and were still working on the problem at 2pm on Thursday, according to Mahmoud Hamad, Media Spokesperson, Dubai Civil Defence.

Footage obtained by Gulf News shows water flowing out of the aquarium, and shoppers lifting up clothes to wade through.

It is believed that a leak occurred in the 270-degree acrylic walkthrough tunnel but it was sealed quickly, Gulf News has learned.

Earlier witnesses reported seeing the crack and that the lower-ground and ground floor areas were cordoned off and cleaners were seen mopping the floor.

Staff on the ground said the attraction would be closed for the rest of Thursday.

The Dubai Mall aquarium advertises that 33,000 sea creatures live inside. It has the capacity to hold 10 million litres of water

It is one of the of the largest tanks in the world at 51m by 20m by 11m and features the world’s largest viewing panel at 32.8m wide and 8.3m high.
 

More to follow...

-With inputs from Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter.

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