Wednesday, April 30
“The entire north-east of Berlin has no water”
Shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning, a freshwater pipe measuring 80 centimetres in diameter burst at Platz der Vereinten Nationen in Friedrichshain. The rupture caused flooding in the streets and left thousands of Berlin households without running water for several hours. While service has since resumed for many, a spokesperson from the Berliner Wasserbetriebe confirmed that, for a period, “the entire north-east of Berlin had no water.”
The break inundated nearby streets, overflowed into shops, and submerged tram lines. Videos circulating on social media show the extent of the flooding and its impact on traffic. Authorities shut off the pipeline completely, with normal pressure gradually returning around 03:30. Before then, large areas of Mitte, Friedrichshain, Lichtenberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Pankow, Weißensee, Hellersdorf, Kaulsdorf, and Marzahn were affected.
Approximately 150 households in the immediate vicinity of Platz der Vereinten Nationen remain without supply. A temporary tap has been installed to provide emergency access. Although the repair work is expected to take several weeks, drinking water is anticipated to be restored to most affected residents over the course of Wednesday.
This is the second major pipe failure in just four months. On New Year’s Eve, a similar rupture in Wedding disrupted water supply across the city.
